We have been involved in
technical rescue operations for the past three years, mainly through swift
water rescue. We have 10 firefighters that have spent countless hours
training for swift water rescues and all of us are certified through Rescue
3 International.
In April of 2004 we realized, along with the entire county, that there was a
need for a larger and more organized effort for protecting the citizens of
Washington County during natural disasters such as floods and tornadoes. In
the last year alone we ran a total of ten swift water rescue calls. In the
summer of 2004 we started coordinating with the Washington County Department
of Emergency Management to organize a team that could handle swift water
rescues, high angle rope rescue, confined space rescue,
trench rescue, and building collapse. We came up with firefighters from the
19 fire departments in the county to serve on the team. The county was
divided into five sections or areas. These areas are east, south, west,
Fayetteville and Springdale. The east team, which we are connected with, is
comprised of the Round Mountain, Elkins, Goshen and Nob Hill fire
departments. We cover all technical rescue situations that occur in the four
departments areas as well as all swift water rescues that occur east of
interstate 540 (West Fork, Whitehouse, Sunset and Winslow). We expect to run
frequently to Madison County as well. We are equipped with a large array of
equipment to handle nearly any situation that may arise. We have a 10 foot
inflatable rescue boat and motor, numerous ropes, rigging and other
specialized equipment to handle confined space and trench rescues. The
Washington County Department of Emergency Management through federal grant
money purchased all of this equipment. All of this equipment is carried on a
12-foot box trailer that is stored at our fire station number one. We have a
total of 29 members, eleven of which are our firefighters. They are Will
Barton, JD DeMotte, Lance Gaines, Jimmy Gulledge, Steve Lewis, Brian Reagan,
Lance Selph, Jessica Wood, Jimmie Wood, Nathan Wood and Shane Wood. All but
one has been certified in swift water rescue and six are already certified
in rope rescue. Right now we are working towards getting all of our team
members certified in all the areas of technical rescue. This should be
accomplished by the end of 2006. Our equipment will be on display at the
Country Breakfast on May 21st. We hope this service will add to the security
of all residents in our community as well as Washington County as a whole.
Shane Wood
Water rescue/recovery - June 23, 2008
Swift water rescue on Lake Sequoyah - March 19, 2008
Swift water search in West Fork - March 18th & 19, 2008
Rope Rescue Training March 18 & 19, 2006
Swift Water Rescue - 2004
