The New Bedford Fire Department has been awarded $68,000 in federal grant funds to boost training on rescuing people from stalled elevators.
The department will bring in experts on elevator rescues to help meet training standards established by the National Fire Protection Association.
โWith new buildings rising in the city, our fire department must be equipped to handle the challenges that come with them,โ Mayor Jon Mitchell said. โIโm thankful to FEMA for providing the resources that will strengthen our emergency response capabilities.โ
Last year, firefighters responded to 33 calls for people stuck in elevators, including some having medical emergencies.
โElevator rescue situations carry significant risk to both the victims and the firefighters,โ Fire Chief Brian Medeiros said. โThe NBFD strives to bring a professional, efficient and highly effective response to every type of emergency, and specialized training like this goes a long way to delivering that goal to New Bedford residents.โ
