Although the West Grove Fire Company's mission is to provide fire, rescue and emergency medical services to the community, making sure that our firefighters and EMTs are safe is a priority. And, given the very dangerous conditions that firefighters may face inside burning buildings, the WGFC is committed to teaching the skills needed when a firefighter is in trouble.

Recently, at one of the WGFC's evening training sessions held every Monday night, firefighters focused on the skills needed if a fellow firefighter would have trouble with their breathing apparatus -- known as SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus). This can happen if the air in the tank runs out, or if there is an equipment failure, or worse -- if a firefighter becomes trapped or unconscious. In these situations, WGFC personnel must quickly assist, and may have to do so in zero-visibility conditions.

During the Monday night drill, firefighters were given an overview of the company's RIT packs, which include breathing air, a spare face mask, and a variety of connection options to help firefighters in distress. RIT stands for Rapid Intervention Team. RIT teams are deployed on every fire emergency and are a group of trained firefighters who stand by at each fire in case a firefighter gets into trouble, becomes trapped and/or needs their own rescue.

In the drill, firefighters practiced making air hose connections with firefighting gloves on -- these gloves protect firefighters from flames and heat, but they are also bulky and reduce dexterity, so practicing these connections under controlled conditions allows members to get a feel for how the air connections work with gloves on. To make the drill even more realistic, some members practiced with a blindfold and gloves to experience the challenges of RIT work under zero visibility conditions.

The WGFC has a strong legacy of frequent training, making sure firefighters and EMTs have regular exposure to the latest techniques, and get opportunity to drill on common and needed skills. Thousands of hours of training are held each year at the WGFC so that our emergency responders are prepared for any situation they might find themselves in. And, importantly, the training in-house pairs our most experienced firefighters with newer responders, passing along years of experience as we develop the next generation of firefighters.