First responders from across Central Pennsylvania participated in the largest full-scale Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) drill ever conducted in the region Thursday. The exercise, held in heavy rain, simulated real-life rescue missions in buildings ranging from partially collapsed to completely destroyed.”When you call 911, somebody’s got to show up, right? And you expect somebody to show up. That somebody, in a situation like this, is us,” said Chief Brian Enterline of the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire.The drill involved fire departments from Lancaster, Manheim, Harrisburg, and New Cumberland. The buildings used for the exercise are owned by Homeland Center and slated for demolition as part of an expansion project, according to Chief Enterline. The organization partnered with USAR to allow teams to train in the unstable structures.”(The building) is not very stable as is, so it’s not really simulated. At the end of the day, the house is not in great shape. A lot of it has already fallen over,” said Battalion Chief Billy Nonnemacher, of Lancaster Bureau of Fire’s Rescue Task Force.The drill utilized many techniques, including K-9 units, further enhancing the realism of the exercise.”We got to exercise all those things that receive building, shoring going on. You know, inside the building, you see the tunneling going on using a specialized search camera to be able to see in those spaces to help them locate any particular victims,” said Enterline.The rain added an extra layer of difficulty to the training, but participants said it provided a real-world emergency scenario.”The weather just adds another factor in. But it is what it is, right? You just gotta work through the weather,” said Nonnemacher.”This isn’t just a Harrisburg thing. This is a regional asset that is here for the Commonwealth,” said Enterline. “The ability to use these buildings in a real-world scenario is something you’re going to get nowhere else.”As the skies cleared later in the day, firefighters reflected on the importance of the training, which they conduct quarterly to ensure they are prepared for emergencies in any conditions.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
First responders from across Central Pennsylvania participated in the largest full-scale Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) drill ever conducted in the region Thursday. The exercise, held in heavy rain, simulated real-life rescue missions in buildings ranging from partially collapsed to completely destroyed.
“When you call 911, somebody’s got to show up, right? And you expect somebody to show up. That somebody, in a situation like this, is us,” said Chief Brian Enterline of the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire.
The drill involved fire departments from Lancaster, Manheim, Harrisburg, and New Cumberland.
The buildings used for the exercise are owned by Homeland Center and slated for demolition as part of an expansion project, according to Chief Enterline. The organization partnered with USAR to allow teams to train in the unstable structures.
“(The building) is not very stable as is, so it’s not really simulated. At the end of the day, the house is not in great shape. A lot of it has already fallen over,” said Battalion Chief Billy Nonnemacher, of Lancaster Bureau of Fire’s Rescue Task Force.
The drill utilized many techniques, including K-9 units, further enhancing the realism of the exercise.
“We got to exercise all those things that receive building, shoring going on. You know, inside the building, you see the tunneling going on using a specialized search camera to be able to see in those spaces to help them locate any particular victims,” said Enterline.
The rain added an extra layer of difficulty to the training, but participants said it provided a real-world emergency scenario.
“The weather just adds another factor in. But it is what it is, right? You just gotta work through the weather,” said Nonnemacher.
“This isn’t just a Harrisburg thing. This is a regional asset that is here for the Commonwealth,” said Enterline. “The ability to use these buildings in a real-world scenario is something you’re going to get nowhere else.”
As the skies cleared later in the day, firefighters reflected on the importance of the training, which they conduct quarterly to ensure they are prepared for emergencies in any conditions.