September in Michigan is a time that I traditionally watch my kid’s football and head up north to fish the annual king salmon run. That all changed 3 years ago at FDIC when Mike Huffman from Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District in northern Illinois asked me to teach at Crunch Time Extrication. After my first time there, I was hooked and in 2015 I made my third trip to Illinois to new September tradition. Why you ask? It’s all about the students at Crunch Time Extrication.
Crunch Time Extrication is spread out into a weekend workshop that teaches relatively new firefighters a structured crash course in extrication competitions. Friday night is team registration and classroom class room session. Saturday is a hands on training session and the weekend cumulates on Sunday with an extrication competition.
Friday night consists of a couple hours of classroom presentations. For the last 3 years, I presented New Vehicle Technology from my Vehicle Extrication from inside of the Auto Industry classes.
Saturday the teams are split up in the morning into several groups. The groups include, Incident Command, Medical Officer, and the remaining team members are sent to the junkyard. Around lunchtime the teams are put back together and run through several different scenarios. Thanks to support of Erickson Auto Parts & Services in South Beloit, IL. The student to vehicle ratio was nearly 1-to-1.
Challenge day is Sunday. The teams compete in a judged extrication competition that cumulates the skills and techniques that acquired over the last two days. Each team competes in an unlimited and hand tool only pit. The teams are judged based off TERC USA rules.
Heavy Stabilization & Lift Class
This weekend, Toranze Lee and Premier Extrication held their Heavy Stabilization and Lifting class taught. The class focused on advanced techniques using the Paratech equipment, eDraulic tools, grip hoists, vehicle stabilization methods, airbags for lifting, power tools, and the use of heavy wreckers for extrication.
Some of the departments that attended:
The North Carolina Extrication School at Sandhills Fire Training Center was hosted by the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal. Firefighters had the opportunity to learn cutting-edge tactics in the world of vehicle extrication from some of the top instructors in the county.
Training
Car into an apartment building
In Mississauga, Canada, a vehicle crashed into a large residential building and the damage could have impacted up to 4 stories. Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services stated the vehicle hit the window on the building’s second floor. The driver was extricated and transported to the hospital.
Car into an apartment building
In Mississauga, Canada, a vehicle crashed into a large residential building and the damage could have impacted up to 4 stories. Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services stated the vehicle hit the window on the building’s second floor. The driver was extricated and transported to the hospital.
