Home Heating and Winter Fire Safety

Captain - Chris Lamb (Pictured Left), plays a victim attached to a tower's guy wire during a recent Structural Tower Rescue Workshop in Frederick, Maryland.

This Ropes That Rescue ^Ltd. , Structural Tower Rescue Workshop was an in-depth, hands-on course, emphasizing structural rescue from the ground up. Bottom up procedures were used on stranded climbers above the rescue team's arriving location. The STRW addresses these important distinctions early on with both structure-based and ground-based rescue techniques, which provide in-depth orientation on lattice steel and monopole radio and power transmission tower construction, climbing techniques and hazards, all for the emergency responder. This is the first and only seminar carefully delineating the many hazards associated with energized power transmission lines for fire fighters. 99% of all above ground towers in the US are electrical power transmission lines.

Before the rescue section begins, students learn several ways of safely climbing not only towers but structures such as bridges using time-tested climbing methods, rest positions, and tips for route strategy. Many of these techniques are used today by seasoned workmen who work on towers and structures as part of their daily employment. All climbing is taught with first-up fall protection and established self belay lines for all subsequent climbers on the tower.
This rigorous workshop teaches rescue of uninjured, ill, slightly injured or injured workers or unauthorized climbers on lattice steel and monopole structures up to 40m (125'). The seven-day seminar is designed for emergency responders.

completed the one week, sixty-hour North Carolina TR-Wilderness Rescue Course.  This course based on the (NASAR) National Association for Search and Rescue's, (FUNSAR) Fundamentals of Search and Rescue class.  The course presented the knowledge, skills, and ability to satisfy the requirements of Chapter Sixteen (Wilderness) of NFPA 1006: Standard for Technical Rescue Professional Qualifications. Classes included in this course are: Rescue Operations for Wilderness, Rescue Rigging, Navigation, Tracking, and Victim Management.  The class was hosted at the Brown Emergency Training Center at Cleveland Community College.  Students were prepared throughout the week on all aspects of Wilderness Rescue from the administrative and planning to search operations.  The end of the week was capped off by an over-night search and rescue scenario encompassing Crowder's Mountain State Park. Students utilized land navigation and search skills while attempting to locate a victim lost on the mountain.  All trails on the mountain were searched as well as the wilderness area in high probability locations.

Cowpens Firefighters responded to 5482 N. Main Street in Cowpens on Wednesday July 27^th to find flames showing from the rear of a single family home with heavy extension into the attic area. One 1 3/4" handline was utilized in an offensive attack into the home with a back-up line stretched to the rear.  The fire was deemed under control after approximately 15 minutes.  Firefighters from Converse and Drayton also responded to assist with the blaze.  In all 30 firefighters assisted in the extinguishment of the fire.

Again on Saturday July, 30^th Firefighters were called to a fire at 345 W. Church Street.  While a number of Cowpens Firefighters were attending training out-of-town Goucher Fire Department was requested to stand-by for assistance.  Goucher Firefighters arrived along with some Cowpens personnel.  Fire was observed in the front of the home with extension into the attic.  Crews made an aggressive interior attack to extinguish the bulk of fire with a single 1 3/4" handline.  Ventilation and Overhaul was conducted to address additional "hot spots".  Converse and Drayton also assisted.  A total of 20 personnel responded to extinguish the blaze.  Special thanks goes out to Goucher, Converse, and Drayton Fire Departments for assisting in coverage while some Cowpens members attended valuable training.