BIDDEFORD — Local fire departments have partnered with a Biddeford business to give firefighters hands-on training in confined space situations.
Firefighters from Biddeford and Saco were on hand on Thursday morning at Fiber Materials Inc., a maker of carbon fiber composites for use in industrial, commercial, and aerospace applications located at 5 Morin St.
The local firefighters had set up a tripod over an opening in the floor in one of the company’s buildings. They donned safety gear and practiced lowering and raising each other.
Firefighters must train on confined space rescue as part of annual instruction requirements. Saco Deputy Fire Chief Robert Martin and Biddeford Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Duross said they were grateful to be allowed to conduct the training on location at a local business.
“It’s a great tool for us,” Martin said. As part of the confined space training, he said, firefighters also reviewed policies and monitored the air.
The hope was to train firefighters from all shifts of the two departments over four sessions, Martin said.. Old Orchard Beach participated in some of the sessions as well.
Although confined space rescues happen with “very low frequency” it is important for firefighters to be prepared should such an event happen, he said.
Thursday’s training was one of many trainings Biddeford and Saco have conducted together. The two departments work together through a mutual aid agreement, and Duross and Martin said it is helpful for both departments to receive the same training so both can be on the same page when it comes to how to conduct an emergency response.
“It helps us work together toward joint policies,” Duross said.
Firefighters are also working with Fiber Materials Inc. to review the company’s action plan for emergencies.
Officials from Fiber Materials Inc. said they liked being able to help the community and it was nice for the employees and firefighters to get to know each other.
“We’ve worked with them in the past, To have them on site again is great,” said Fiber Materials Inc. spokeswoman Megan McMahon.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less