EVERETT, MA – Mayor Robert J. Van Campen and other City leaders recently got an up-close look at the intense, hands-on training firefighters undergo to prepare for emergencies where every second counts.
Everett firefighters joined crews from neighboring communities for a multijurisdictional training exercise at 210 Beacham Street, a building owned by an affiliate of The Davis Companies The property provided firefighters with a rare opportunity to train inside a real structure and recreate some of the challenging conditions they could encounter during an emergency.
The exercises simulated what firefighters experience when entering a burning building, including alarms sounding, little to no visibility, extreme heat and a limited supply of air. A firefighter’s air tank may provide only about 15 minutes of working time under strenuous conditions.
The training focused heavily on search and rescue, including navigating large and small areas, locating and extracting downed firefighters and rescuing individuals who may be trapped beneath large objects. In some scenarios, it can take approximately 17 firefighters working together to safely remove a downed firefighter.
“Real-life training is essential in the fire service,” said Everett Fire Chief Joe Hickey. “It gives our firefighters the opportunity to practice these skills before they have to put their lives on the line to save someone else or one of their own. The more we train, the better prepared we are when a real emergency happens.”
Everett is part of a mutual aid network with Revere, Chelsea, Malden and Medford, meaning firefighters from these communities regularly respond alongside one another during major incidents. Over the past year, the departments have expanded opportunities to train together on a consistent basis.
“We all have the same mission and the same goals, so it only makes sense that we train together,” said Hickey. “When we’re responding to an emergency, we need to know how to work as one team. Training together also reinforces just how important adequate staffing is to safely and effectively accomplish the job.”
Mayor Van Campen joined City leaders and managers at the training to better understand the physical demands firefighters face and the resources necessary to keep both firefighters and the public safe.
“Watching this training firsthand gives you a much deeper appreciation for what our firefighters are asked to do,” said Mayor Van Campen. “The conditions they work under, the teamwork and communication required, and the speed at which everything has to happen are incredibly impressive. As Mayor, seeing this firsthand helps me make more informed decisions when we’re talking about investments in public safety, staffing and equipment.”
An affiliate of The Davis Companies, made the vacant property available to Everett and surrounding communities for the training exercise.
“As the son of a firefighter, I’ve always had a deep respect for the men and women who run toward dangerous conditions to protect others,” said Mike Cantalupa, Chief Development Officer at Davis.
“Providing a place where firefighters from Everett and surrounding communities could train in realistic conditions and prepare at the highest level simply felt like the right thing to do. It was an honor to play a small part in supporting the people who serve and protect our communities.”