By EMT Jim Fredriksson Photos by Ed Boyd and Jim Fredriksson
May 17, 2023
Yaphank provided another great training opportunity on Wednesday as a contingent of firefighters, both new and experienced, brought their skills and expertise to a "taxpayer" scenario, a simulated scene of a row of stores with front and rear entrances. Typically, firefighters need to push-through a fire scene and search for victims while putting large amounts of water on the fire and make their way out the back door, extinguishing as they proceed. These scenarios instill confidence and provide realistic experience as firefighters pull down suspended ceilings to check for fire above their heads without pushing past it, apply water to the fire and conduct searches as part and parcel of entering a burning building. A combination of extinguishing and searching leads to hopefully successful rescues as store owners have been known to spend late nights working at their stores.
Prepping for entry
At the scene, hoses ready.
Victims found and extricated.
Yaphank instructors oversee the action.
Interior and exterior firefighters all work together as 1st Lt. Dan Catapano briefs his crew.
Breaching the locks.
Training officer John Rumpler mans the saw to obtain access.
Attacking a storage container fire.
Incident commander 2nd Asst Chief Pindar Damianos
A second evolution through another storefront.
Packing up the hoses after a long night.
"Joe" and Ricky.
The Berry family legacy continues.
More teamwork. EMT Karen Byrnes managed the accountability when firefighters enter the buildings. Ex-Captain Steve
Geehreng manned the pumps on 8-4-2, managed the hose and lifted everything heavy!
Protection Captain and ex-Chief Ed Boyd lends his invaluable expertise to the scenario.
2nd Asst. Chief Pindar Damianos, 1st Asst. Chief David Surozenski and Training Officer John Rumpler.