Friday, October 22, 2010

Rescue 13 Structural Collapse Training

Members of the Cherry Hill Fire Department Rescue Company 13 participated in training on structural collapse, building shoring. The shoring training took place over three days as A Group, B Group and C Group each spent a day training. The training included a morning lecture session where the members learned the necessary information to identify the signs of structural damage to buildings, the steps to prepare to support damaged structures, and how to build the shoring systems needed to support the damaged sections of buildings. The rescue company shores damaged buildings only to serve as protection when someone is trapped within the building. The second part of the training included an afternoon session of practical evolutions. Rescue members constructed three shoring systems including the solid sole raker shore system for supporting damaged walls, a double T-shore used for supporting a damaged floor, and a window shore. The days of training were the first eight hours of the sixteen hour structural collapse technician course being instructed by Rescue Company 13 B Group Firefighter Robert "Mac" MacDermott. Firefighter MacDermott also seves as a Unit Leader on the New Jersey State Police Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR), NJTF 1.

Cutting the rebar to length
Cherry Hill Fire Department Rescue Company 13 is one of several regional rescue companies tasked with providing technical rescue services to the citizens of Cherry Hill Township and the surrounding region. For that reason, members of the rescue company must constantly train and practice in order to be confident in performing the many rescue skills required of the rescue company.


Collapse Unit 1336

The Palm Nailer speeds up the assembly
Once one raker is built the rest can be quickly assembled right on top, using the 1st as a rough template

Pre-nailing the cleats to save time once the wedges are driven in, setting the raker


Double T Shore

Window Shore