Drills, Training Help Firefighters Prepare to Rescue One of Their Own

Rapid Intervention training will continue throughout the week

Rapid City, S.D. - Loud music, sirens and alarms are all part of a training being conducted this week to help Rapid City Firefighters prepare to rescue one of their own should the need arise. Under the direction of Lt. Hunter Harlan, Rapid City Firefighters are participating in Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) training this week in Rapid City.

A Rapid Intervention Team is a group of firefighters who are specifically designated to provide for the safety of firefighters at an emergency incident. The responsibilities of a Rapid Intervention Team can include ensuring easy ingress and egress for those firefighters operating inside of a building, ensuring accountability of firefighters operating inside of a hazard zone, and -if the need arises- rescue of downed or trapped firefighters. Situations in which firefighters are in need of emergency assistance are known as "mayday" situations.

Functioning as a member of RIT requires that firefighters possess a set of skills that ensure their ability to function quickly and efficiently in a mayday situation. Early in 2017, the Rapid City Fire Department placed specialized RIT equipment on all large fire apparatus. This ensures that no matter which crews is on scene and assigned to RIT, they have the proper gear to perform in that capacity. This includes operating on incidents as part of a mutual aid assignment outside of the city.

Above: Members of Engine Co. 6 prepare for a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) assignment during a drill this week. The mission of RIT during this training is to rescue a firefighter who has become disoriented and is low on air.

The specialized RIT pack includes an air bottle for firefighters who are low on air. Specialized quick connect fittings allow firefighters to quickly attach the full bottle to a low bottle and do so in low light, low visibility environments while wearing gloves that limit dexterity. Cutting tools, webbing and carabiners are also part of the RIT pack.

Above: A specialized pack that can be deployed by RIT's in the event that a firefighter is in need of rescue. The air bottle inside the pack features quick connections for use in low visibility conditions with limited dexterity,

During the week, RCFD members are taking part in lecture and discussion training activities at morning briefing. The discussion centers on procedures and policies regarding RIT as well as different theory and considerations for a Rapid Intervention assignment. Throughout the day, each on-duty crew will rotate through a drill session at a local training facility.

The drill involves a scenario in which a firefighter has become disoriented in a low light, low visibility environment, is low on air, and is in need of rescue. The RIT firefighters must navigate this environment that also includes loud music, alarms and sirens meant to increase the stress level for the rescuers and cause difficulty in communicating. Once firefighters reach the simulated victim, they must drag them back to safety. During the evolution, firefighters are closely monitored by instructors through use of a thermal imaging camera (TIC). At the completion of the drill, a discussion is held between participants and instructors to find out what went well and what can be improved for next time. Despite their hard work on the training ground this week, Rapid City Firefighters hope that their Rapid Intervention skills are never needed.

Above: Firefighter/Paramedic Rob Thompson navigates a dark, smoky environment to search for a simulated victim during RIT drills this week.

Above: Engine Co. 6 is viewed during RIT drills through the use of a thermal imaging camera (TIC). The TIC detects differences in temperature and is utilized during poor visibility conditions.

Above: Utilizing webbing and carabiners, firefighters from RCFD Engine 6 work to extricate a simulated down firefighter during RIT drills this week. 

Above: Students and instructors discuss the RIT drill and look for areas in which to improve on. The group also discussed items that were performed well.

For questions or comment related to this post, please contact Lt. Jim Bussell, Public Information Officer for the Rapid City Fire Department, at 605-394-4180.

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Not Your Average Ride to School

Rapid City, S.D. - A red fire engine with lights flashing and siren wailing isn't your ordinary school bus. For two Canyon Lake Elementary students, however, a fire engine from the Black Hawk Fire Department served as their ride to school this morning. For first-grader Jackson Bloomgren and second-grader Emmalynn Bloomgren, their first day back to school after winter break will be one they remember for a long, long time.

Emmalynn and Jacksons father, Captain Jared Bloomgren, is currently deployed in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel as the Fire Marshal and Commander of the 216th Engineer Detachment out of Rapid City. Looking for a special way to let his children know he was thinking of them, Captain Bloomgren reached out to Interim Fire Chief Rod Seals of the Rapid City Fire Department. "Being away from my family can be trying for everyone", he wrote in an e-mail. Chief Seals was happy to help.

Working with Black Hawk Fire Chief Kurt Klunder, a plan was hatched to have a fire engine from Black Hawk arrive at the Bloomgren home and pick up Jackson and Emmalynn. They would then head toward Canyon Lake Elementary where they would meet up with Engine 5 from the Rapid City Fire Department and be escorted to school. The students and two firefighters made their way to school on board the fire engine as Captain Bloomgren was able to join them via the Apple FaceTime feature on their iPad.

The fire engines arrived at Canyon Lake Elementary at about 7:45 am this morning. After a brief pause for photos, Jackson and Emmalynn walked to class, flanked by six firefighters from both Black Hawk and Rapid City Fire Departments.

Above: Emmalynn and Jackson Bloomgren arrive at Canyon Lake Elementary School on board a fire engine from the Black Hawk Fire Department.

Above: Jackson, Emmalynn, and Sondra Bloomgren share a moment with Capt. Jared Bloomgren on Face Time.
Captain Bloomgren is currently deployed in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel.

Above: From Left to Rt- Firefighter Drake Anderson and Capt. Drew Klunder from the Black Hawk Fire Department, Emmalynn and Jackson Bloomgren, Firefighter/Paramedic Sarah Allender, Capt. Rob Eddy, and Firefighter/Paramedic Brett Morton from the Rapid City Fire Department all pause for a photo before heading into Canyon Lake Elementary. Captain Jared Bloomgren also made it into the photo courtesy of Face Time on Emmalynn's iPad.

The Rapid City Fire Department wishes to extend our thanks to the Bloomgren family for inviting us to be a part of this special moment. Our sincere thanks to Captain Bloomgren and the entire 216th Engineer Detachment for their service and sacrifice. We hope the remainder of your deployment is safe and successful and will be looking forward to the opportunity to welcome you home very soon.

Above: Flanked by Rapid City and Black Hawk firefighters, Emmalynn and Jackson Bloomgren enter Canyon Lake Elementary for their first day back to school after winter break.

Above: Jackson Bloomgren shows Firefighter/Paramedic Sarah Allender and Capt. Drew Klunder his classroom.

For questions or comment related to this release, please contact Lt. Jim Bussell, Public Information Officer for the Rapid City Fire Department, at 605-394-4180.

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