When Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company fire engines arrived outside of the historic Green Mansion on Main Street for a search-and-rescue operation last week, it was members of city council donning the gear.
“Coming from a military background, you think you understand what the firefighter goes through. I can tell you I have a much greater respect for what the firefighters do,” Mayor Jerry Clifton said. “You put on 80 pounds of equipment, enter a building with a hose, and it’s not as easy as it looks.”
The search-and-rescue simulation was part of a larger demonstration that allowed Clifton along with council members Jen Wallace, Stu Markham, James Horning Jr. and Jason Lawhorn to learn first-hand what it takes when the volunteers respond to a call.
The evening started with an overview of the department and its operations. After the presentation, the attendees used hydraulic rescue tools to simulate a vehicle extraction.
Aetna ramped up the demonstration by having the officials wear full gear and a self-contained breathing apparatus to breach the Green Mansion with a charged hose line, simulating a search for trapped victims.