07-04-2025
Getzville Fire Company trains firefighters how to rescue one of their own
GETZVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) — Firefighters from across Western New York learned how to save one of their own during the Getzville Fire Company's annual Rapid Intervention Training course, 'GRIT,' this weekend.
The two-day course is designed to teach firefighters how to remain calm during a crisis to rescue a lost, injured or trapped firefighter.
'When you hear a mayday call go out in the real world, your heart stops and you are operating at high stress, you don't know what's going on,' Getzville Fire Company public information officer David Morales said. 'You need to be able to reset and go to your training and it's important you keep composure.'
The course contains training scenarios inspired by real-life incidents that resulted in a firefighter death. Scenarios include fire development, search and rescue, collapse operations, self-rescue and emergency air procedures.
'We take our scenarios from incidents that have happened across the country,' co-training officer Steven Herberger said. 'Things where firefighters got in trouble in the past and we might be able to extract from that and recreate that entrapment or condition and then teach people how to overcome it.'
'When the conditions are so bad (that) firefighters need help getting rescued, you need to take specialized training for that,' Morales said. 'When you are a firefighter and your buddy that you've known for years has gotten injured or lost, that is a very difficult time mentally and physically. You are pushed to your limit.'
Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.
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