County forms technical rescue team with members from multiple fire departments

File photo by Tom Rivers: Albion firefighters, including Steven Papponetti in front and Fred Piano in back, try to locate a man who went into cold water after his dog in a former quarry in Murray on April 23, 2021. Firefighters from several local departments scoured the quarry waters for the man, who was found after drowning.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has authorized the county’s director of emergency management to form a countywide technical rescue team.

Justin Niederhofer, emergency management director, said the team will include firefighters from multiple departments in the county who will be trained together and will practice on the different rescue equipment among departments.

Niederhofer said the new team will be trained for highly technical rescues, such as rope rescues, grain entrapment and water rescues.

The move to a countywide team is in response to a declining number of volunteers at many of the departments, Niederhofer said at Tuesday’s Legislature meeting.

Carlton, Clarendon, Medina, Murray and Shelby fire departments each have equipment for technical rescues. Firefighters from those departments, as well as other departments without that equipment, will have an opportunity to be trained to be on the technical rescue team.

Not all departments with rescue equipment have the same gear. The team will train on each department’s equipment to be familiar with the ropes, harnesses and other tools. Some departments also have grain rescue equipment which includes steel plates and an augur. The team members will also have wet suits for going into the water.

Niederhofer said firefighters deploy rope rescues when people are stuck down ravines and embankments.

The formation of the team will also increase the chances for grant funding for equipment and training, Niederhofer said.