BERWYN, PA - In a week that saw several of our Volunteers and Career Staff deploy to the Houston, TX region to help those devastated by Hurricane Harvey, members of Berwyn's Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) and Confined Space Rescue (CSR) Team spent their Saturday, at the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus in Coatesville, honing their skills in these demanding and technical disciplines.

As part of the Chester County Rescue Task Force, Berwyn supplies members for the Confined Space Rescue branch that responds to calls in and out of the County. Berwyn also provides Rapid Intervention services for several companies in the County.

Rapid Intervention Teams, also known by other terms including FAST (Firefighter Assist and Search Team), is the practice of rescuing downed firefighters. Due to the bulky and complicated gear that today's firefighters wear, as well as the hazardous and volatile environments that firefighters find themselves in, rescuing a downed firefighter can be an extremely complicated and demanding task. Many of our conventional rescue techniques and tools that are used for saving civilians often don't work when it comes to rescuing firefighters. Members of Berwyn's RIT spend countless extra hours every year practicing and refining these skills, above and beyond the numerous other trainings and certifications that our members are required to have.

Berwyn's Confined Space Rescue team is comprised of nationally certified (National Fire Protection Association-NFPA) Confined Space Rescue Technicians that are both Volunteers and Career Staff. OSHA defines a "Confined Space" as; Many workplaces contain areas that are considered "confined spaces" because while they are not necessarily designed for people, they are large enough for workers to enter and perform certain jobs. A confined space also has limited or restricted means for entry or exit and is not designed for continuous occupancy. Confined spaces include, but are not limited to, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, pits, manholes, tunnels, equipment housings, ductwork, pipelines, etc.

It takes special training and equipment to effect rescues in this dangerous environment, and Berwyn has several locations in our first due area in Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships that present this challenge.

For more information please feel free to check out the links provided below or for questions about our capabilities, contact the fire station at 610-644-6050 ext. 16.

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