State fire officials are in Lafayette providing life-saving training.
Team members from the Lafayette Fire Department, Carencro Fire Department, Louisiana National Guard and Louisiana Air Guard are working for certification in urban search and rescue.
These men and women are being trained and equipped to respond to all hazards, including terrorists, structural collapses, water rescues, confined spaces and vehicle rescue incidents.
The Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Specialists are providing the training to several agencies that are part of the Louisiana Urban Search and Rescue Regional Response Team 4 (LA-RRT4).
“This is important training for us because in the future we will provide a resource to the state in case of large natural disasters,” said Archie Ducharme, program coordinator for the LA-RRRT4. “We hope they gain some experience from conducting the practical drills we don’t often get to do, like putting boats in the water. They should be proud of what they’re doing. In the end, they’re providing a service not only to the local community but also throughout the state.”
Today, the teams underwent Surface Water Rescue training on N. Dugas Road in Lafayette.
The Surface Water Rescue Specialist Course teaches three disciplines from the NFPA standard for training technical rescues: Surface Water Rescue Technician, Water Craftsman, Flood Water Rescue Technician.
Between 20 and 30 individuals received training in skills including water hazard awareness, operating watercraft to and around a victim, shore-based rescues and swimming rescue techniques.
