Carlisle Fire Department Conducts Skills Assesment Training at Carlisle Crossing Apartments

Firefighters negotiate confined areas during a self-rescue drill.

On Saturday, November 7, 2009 the Carlisle Fire Department held a skills assessment training at the Carlisle Commons Apartments on DuBois Rd. Several skill stations were set up for the firefighters to perform jobs such as ladder placement, hose line advancement, self rescue and search & rescue with victim removal. The training day was the first opportunity for new Fire Chief Krista Wyatt to train with the department and assess the overall skill levels of the members.
Chief Wyatt was pleased with the overall performance of those in attendance and will plan for
future training events to enhance the skills

Firefighters practice victim removal under the direction of Asst. Chief Bell.

and knowledge of the department. As with any other department with similar call volumes, the greatest need for skill management is repetitive training and this can be done with the continued use of the apartment building.
The fire department members demonstrated that they have been well trained and they have the necessary skills to perform their duties as firefighters.
The Carlisle Fire Department greatly appreciates the owner and management of the Carlisle Commons Apartments for providing the building in which to conduct training. The continued use of the facility will enable the department members to continue

Firefighters prepare to enter an apartment to search for a victim.

to strengthen their skills and improve their ability to keep the community safe.
On Monday, November 16th, the Carlisle Fire Department returned to the Carlisle Commons Apartments for Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) training.  The Warren County Fire Chiefs’ Association established a RIT policy several years ago to provide for a common protocol for all of the fire departments in the county.  The intention of the RIT is to be a stand-by crew who is ready to enter a structure if a firefighter or crew of firefighters would become lost or unable to free themselves from an area.  The RIT becomes a

Firefighters wait for their next command after advancing a hose line.

rescue team and goes in search of the lost firefighter or crew. 
The Carlisle Common Apartments have allowed the fire department to build obstructions in the empty units so the firefighters can practice negotiation around unusual walls or other areas.  Monday’s training was an ongoing process which started on Nov. 7th’s all day training event.  The Franklin Township Fire Department (Station 20) also participated in training at the apartments on Monday evening, completing similar RIT drills and plans are being made for more shared training events in the near future.