MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Firefighters save countless lives every year, including their own. North County’s Fire Protection District teamed up with Camp Pendleton’s Fire and Emergency Services last month to prepare and prevent this worst-case scenario at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Detachment Fallbrook.
“Just like we rescue victims out of a burning building, we have to be prepared to save our own,” said Fire Capt. Brandon R. Lucore, NCFPD. “We have to be ready for this worst-case scenario.”
Last year the country lost a total of 114 firefighters from 33 different states, according to U.S. Fire Administration. California reported seven of these fallen firefighters.
“Firefighters can easily become incapacitated, get lost or succumb to a collapsing building,” Lucore said. “Too many firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty. When a firefighter goes down, we are going in search for one of our own.”
More than 150 firefighters from North County utilized Camp Pendleton’s Rapid Intervention Crew training facility located on the Naval Weapons Station. Firefighters conducted real-time rescue maneuvers and procedures in a smoke-filled furnished basement.
“This facility is great because our firefighters don’t know the floor plan,” Lucore said, who has spent more than 20 years fighting fires. “It makes it as challenging as possible and prepares us for the unknown.”
Training RIC teams would await dreaded “Mayday” firefighter rescue response. After the distress call, responders immediately suited up and traveled through maze-like rooms with almost no visibility.
“This training is crucial if any of us were to become lost, missing or trapped,” said Barry D. Krumwiede, paramedic captain, NCFPD. “I can’t remember ever having lost a firefighter in the North County area, but getting the training today will better prepare us if it should ever happen.”
Firefighters respond to emergency situations with specific responsibilities already assigned. Designated distress teams include fire attack, ventilation, rapid intervention and rescue.
Rapid Intervention Crews consist of at least two firefighters dedicated solely to the search and rescue of fallen comrades. Federal regulations mandate a 2-in 2-out rule when firefighters encounter any immediate danger to life and health.
“We prefer a whole engine company,” said Lucore. “It’s been shown to take 12 firefighters to get one guy out.”
The intervention training primarily teaches firefighters how to avoid situations that would require a RIC team and how to respond if a RIC team is needed.
“Our department has not had to deploy a RIC team yet,” said Lucore. “That tells us that we are doing our job right and not getting ourselves into the wrong situations.”
Five different stations from NCFPD participated in Pendleton’s FES monthly training event.
“We are very proactive,” said Fire Capt. David B. Rosalee, Camp Pendleton Fire and Emergency Services. “We are always training and ready to assist our Marine Corps and Navy families.”