When Geoff Spriggs gets the call that a technical team is needed to rescue a person injured or trapped on Mount Finlayson, a dozen questions run through his mind.
Who do we have available to assist on the call? What is the extent of the personB次元官网网址檚 injuries? Where is that person located exactly? How difficult will the rescue be?
As a commanding officer with a technical team and assistant chief with Langford Fire Rescue when a call comes, Spriggs heads to the scene with the departmentB次元官网网址檚 trailer that includes backpacks with ropes, anchoring devices, carabiners, delay devices, harnesses and helmets. Once the team has been assembled, the focus becomes how do they get that injured person down the mountain.
Spriggs is one of several firefighters who are trained to be a part of Langford Fire RescueB次元官网网址檚 technical team. While firefighters are used to putting out fires, Spriggs said a technical rescue allows them to use their skills in a more methodical way.
B次元官网网址淵ou get this balance of really hard physical work to really technical, intellectual work to solve the problem,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got six different ways you could solve the problem. The intellectual thought that goes in to it is a lot of fun. It really challenges the individuals making those decisions.B次元官网网址�
RELATED: Hiker rescued on Mount Finlayson
When it comes to technical rescues, there are several types including high angle rope rescue (if there is a medical emergency on a crane, for example), wilderness rescues, confined spaces rescues and water rescues.
The department receives the highest number of calls related to wilderness rescues, such as if a hiker is injured or lost on Mount Finlayson and are either suffering from a medical emergency or are unprepared for how strenuous the hike can be B次元官网网址� and only expect those numbers to climb.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 anticipating with the growth of the city, the growth of our trail systems and the promotion of them as a destination, a place to come and enjoy the trails that the number will increase,B次元官网网址� said Spriggs, adding the department is looking at improving the signage in the area and an indication of how difficult a trail is.
RELATED: Emergency crews rescue pregnant woman from Mount Finlayson
During a wilderness rescue, when a person has been found and B次元官网网址減ackagedB次元官网网址� (securing the individual in some way so that they can be moved), depending on the terrain, there is specialty gear used to transport them out.
The first is a sked, which Spriggs describes as a crazy carpet, and allows rescuers to pull the individual through a forest. There is also a B-suit, which is similar to a hammock and is used in a tower crane rescue to safely lower an individual to the ground. A ferno stretcher, also known as a basket stretcher, can be used in an open space.
Other fire departments also specialize in different types of technical rescues as well. Colwood Fire Rescue has a team trained in conducting confined spaces rescues when an individual is unable to get out of a tight space, due to a medical emergency or other hazards such as an oxygen-deficit atmosphere that could cause them to become unconscious.
RELATED: Heading out for a hike on the West Shore? HereB次元官网网址檚 what you need to be prepared
Capt. Bryan Erwin said the department doesnB次元官网网址檛 conduct many full confined spaces rescues, but are put on standby should a member of the CityB次元官网网址檚 public works department venture into a sewer pump station or should a Capital Regional District worker venture into a water vault.
B次元官网网址淭he big difference [between a high angle rope rescue] is equipment. WeB次元官网网址檙e still dealing with ropes and pulleys and mechanical advantage, but a lot of stuff weB次元官网网址檒l deal with is lowering and raising people and of course we have to deal with the atmosphere within the hole B次元官网网址� testing, ventilating and creating a safe space within the actual confined space itself,B次元官网网址� Erwin said.
The Metchosin Fire Department also assists the Langford and Sooke teams with rope rescues and is in the initial stages of completing training for a water rescue team to assist if a car should end up in an embankment in a creek, for example.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a need for it. If somebody gets in a situation thatB次元官网网址檚 beyond the day-to-day operations of what your training is, you need to have that little extra technical advice and knowledge,B次元官网网址� Metchosin Fire Chief Stephanie Dunlop said.
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