Through Smoke and Darkness, Firefighters Race for 'Rapid Intervention'
Wauwatosa and other area fire departments train together to rescue fallen firefighters when seconds mean the difference between survival – and a memorial service.
Crawling across the floor of an enormous warehouse, a team of six firefighters from different departments follows a hose line toward what they hope is their fallen comrade. Simulating a "mayday" call, these firefighters are practicing Rapid Intervention Training, in which they attempt to rescue a fallen firefighter. “The RIT training is about saving our own and being on the same page no matter where we need to respond in the county," Wauwatosa Assistant Chief Scott Erke said. "Not only are we sharing equipment and personnel, we are increasing the confidence in our own personnel operating at the scene. "This training provides the confidence that the responding units from other communities ‘have our back.'" Along with the Wauwatosa Fire …
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