Fire fighters save dummies from danger

MATTAWA - It's impressive to watch fire fighters rescue people from wrecked vehicles. They are skilled, organized, safe and quick.

Those capabilities are a result of training days such as the one held on April 18 at the Grant County Fire District No. 8 station site at Road 24 and Road J.

The participants came from Grant County Fire Districts Nos. 8 and 10. Kittitas County Fire District No. 4 and the Hanford Fire Department.

According to GCFD8 Captain Doug Anderson, the training session is also a fun day. During their practice, firefighters legally finish destroying cars that are already wrecked.

"They come mostly from people in the area," Anderson said. "If we see a junk on someone's property, we ask for it, and we usually get it. When we're done with them we have a recycling company take them away."

The vehicles have dummies within, in all positions, some pinned, come trapped. It's up to the trainees to save them. In some cases vehicles are upside down, some are smashed from the front. There are even pile-ups with a car pinned under a truck.

"We make it seem as real as we can," Anderson said.

There is nothing haphazard about the practice. Even the command structure is practiced. Someone lays out the plan of action before an extrication begins.

All tools, including the jaws of life, are at the disposal of the rescuers. For this training, the Hanford Fire Department brought its rescue truck.