Press release from Asheville Fire Department:
ASHEVILLE – Approximately 50 members from the Asheville Fire Department are involved in a week long intensive Firefighter Survival Training which will finalize their 116 hours of rapid intervention training (RIT) requirements to fully staff AFD’s 3 RIT engine companies. The training is local both Monday and Tuesday at the BC Emergency Training Center from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., then students will finish their course in Dallas NC at Gaston College, where the Office of State Fire Marshal has designated as for the NC Breathing Equipment School. Students will be training hands on with the use of RIT bags used for quick rescue of a firefighter needing rescued, practicing ladder rescues and escapes and testing their personal air consumption.
In response to the post incident analysis of the line of duty death from July 28, 2011, AFD has elected to designate three of their current engines as rapid intervention companies and to staff them with highly trained RIT personnel. RIT is designed to teach firefighters the skills and knowledge for firefighter rescue. All certified firefighters with AFD have attended rapid intervention training, but crews assigned to RIT companies will receive additional training which includes thermal imaging camera training and breathing equipment school. Crews assigned to the RIT companies will perform their normal duties along with being assigned as a RIT crew. Having assigned RIT companies throughout the city and having all firefighters trained in RIT will increase firefighter safety at all fire scenes. It holds true that a firefighter needing rescued at a scene could never have enough equipment or people to ensure their safety.
For more information regarding this training and for media opportunities please contact Kelley Klope, PIO at 828-768-1437.
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