A car has just smashed into the side of a building.
Its engine is on fire and there’s someone trapped inside. Three fire trucks are on the scene, and there’s fear among the crew that the flames may quickly leap to the house.
Sirens can be heard as two ambulances arrive. Across from the home, seven Squamish Red Cross volunteers are setting up a makeshift base ready to look after any victims fleeing the house. Flames now shoot out of the windows.
But it’s just a hypothetical training exercise unfolding behind Fire Hall #1.
“Part of the objective for me was to invite the other agencies and look at their skills,” says Squamish Fire Rescue training division firefighter Kyle Derksen.
Derksen is an organizers behind this seeming madness. Surrounded by unrolling chaos, he’s one of the few members of this giant drill who knows the outcome.
“Not all of our practices are like this,” he says, as two firefighters rush past him with the Jaws of Life on their way to free a dummy caught in the driver’s side of the car. “This drill uses up to nine skills all rolled into one. Usually, we break the skills into smaller practices.”
Firefighters now enter the cement training facility – for this drill ‘the house.’ Over the radios comes more bad news: A firefighter has just fallen and now requires assistance to get out safely. Derksen cracks a wicked smile as he chats with another observer.
Outside the building, things are quickly turning into a tale one would expect to watch on CSI. Firefighters have discovered chemicals in the back of the car, leading them to believe the house is being used as a meth lab.
“One thing I got to say about all the fire training is we try and have fun,” Derksen says, as the volunteer standing next to him lies down on a stretcher paramedics rolled up to the car wreck, replacing the dummy that’s been extracted from the vehicle.
The victim gets wheeled over to the ambulance. Squamish Unit Chief B.J. Chute is there to watch the action. “This is a great opportunity,” he says of the practice. “We like to take every opportunity for cross-training like this.”
The Red Cross is caring for the victims, helping anyone who had to evacuate the burning building.
“We make sure they would have somewhere to go, give them food and look after their pets,” Sue Dixon says.
In total, more than 50 people are taking part in the drill. Many of these first responders have worked together before. Some haven’t. But now they will all know each other’s faces and skills, Derksen notes.
“It’s great to be in a community in which we have such dedicated volunteers,” he says. “All these people really care.”
