| As the college students start returning to the area, firefighters are busy preparing for fire alarms at the local universities. Canton Fire and Rescue in cooperation with St. Lawrence University officials sponsored a fire drill on Monday, August 15, 2005 at Whitman Hall on the SLU Campus in Canton, New York. Potsdam Fire sponsored a similar drill at Potsdam State University in June.
Potsdam Firefighters were called in mutual aid by Canton Fire Chief Michael Morgan as Canton Fire and Rescue pulled on the scene to find a simulated working fire in a multi-story student dormitory with heavy smoke showing from the third floor and a report of multiple victims trapped and unaccounted for. Chief Morgan observed injured victims on the third floor roof and multiple screaming trapped occupants on the second floor. Chief Morgan passed over immediate rescue of these visible victims to put a line on the fire and locate those in immediate danger closer to the fire. Chief Morgan was the Incident Commander and Second Assistant Chief and Potsdam Fire Driver Robert Crowe was in charge of Operations. The EMS and Triage sector was headed by Canton Fire First Assistant Chief Michael Dalton. Canton Fire Third Assistant Chief Erik Johnson led an interior search and rescue crew.
The victims, portrayed by St. Lawrence University students and staff, were moulaged to simulate a variety of injuries including, minor burns, lacerations, and fractures. The victims were placed throughout the structure by St. Lawrence University Security personnel so firefighters would not know their location prior to their arrival. The heavy smoke was generated by two smoke/fog machines. Three Canton Firefighters also became simulated victims during the incident.
Potsdam Fire units arrived and were assigned to roof rescue with Tower 5. Potsdam Firefighters from Engine 80 and Rescue 14 assisted with search and rescue, removing multiple victims. Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Saxton established a firefighter rehab area. Past Chief Steve Keleher and Firefighter Allen Trimm placed Tower 5 into operation to effect a roof rescue of two victims under the direction of Chief Chris Taylor and Third Assistant Chief Tim Jerome. Engine 80, operated by Veteran Firefighter Jim Corbett, supplied Tower 5 with large diameter hose. Rescue 14, operated by Veteran Firefighter Al Grant, supported operations with lighting and filling SCBA bottles. Potsdam's interior firefighting crews were lead by Past Chief John Keleher, Past Chief Robert Robar, Firefighter Jeff Brown, and Veteran Firefighter Michael Jerome.
Overall, the evening was successful and many lessons were learned. The SLU students and staff were impressed with the operation and experienced a variety of different real life situations. Canton Police Department and SLU Security assisted with scene and traffic control. |
