The Brownwood Fire Department offered their crew members a chance to practice rescue efforts Monday with the newest addition to the BFD fleet, the 100-foot ladder truck.

“We’re just trying to see what it’s like working below-grade with the platform, and trying to see what our limitations are, using the Stokes basket hanging under there,” said Captain Greg Woodcox.   He stated that in high water rescues, this type of utilization of the ladder truck will be very important.

While parked on the north side of Kroger parking lot, firefighters used the ladder to do a mock rescue of a patient who had an emergency in the Adams Branch drainage ditch.  Firefighters used the ladder of the truck to perform a below-grade rescue and were able to learn what it would be like using the new vehicle in this situation.  The rescue mannequin was put into a basket stretcher which was attached to the platform of the ladder truck, and lifted out of the ditch.   Woodcox stated that a firefighter is always with the patient during a rescue.   Firefighter Trent Thompson volunteered for the position Monday afternoon and is shown in the photo above.

Later, firefighters practiced being lowered off of the platform which was raised to approximately 50 feet.

Through these exercises, firefighters were able to practice rescue techniques, but also to utilize some of the many additional features the new truck has onboard.

Firefighters Bradley “Happy” Gilmore, Dave Thomas, Lt. Kyle Whitley, and Matt Campbell were also taking part in this training exercise.

Pictured below are additional photos of firefighters during the training exercises.