VIDEO: The Seattle Fire Department (SFD) teamed up with the Washington National Guard for a joint training exercise to prepare for rescuing survivors during natural disasters and fires in high rise buildings. A Blackhawk helicopter was used to hoist firefighters and dummies from a structure at the joint training facility in West Seattle. “This is a very perishable skillset, so we try to train with them at least four or five times a year,” said Captain Mike Dulas of the Seattle Fire Department. “This is kinda high risk stuff so you need to be prepared and have a working knowledge.” Dulas said the National Guard would likely be called to assist in the event of a catastrophic event, such as an earthquake or major flooding.
He and the other firefighters took turns in a series of exercises, which required them to be lifted and lowered from a hoist attached to the chopper. The group also participated in a simulation rescue, where they were lowered on top of a building to recover a dummy. “It’s very cool. This is the most fun I get to do on the fire department,” said Dulas. The helicopter was piloted by two guardsmen, including Chief Warrant Officer Jarin Trakel. “It takes a lot to hover an aircraft for an extended period of time. It adds a more heightened responsibility when there are one or two [people] relying on you to not hit them into something else in a confined space or up against a guard rail or something,” said Trakel.
