TURNERS FALLS — Although dark, cold and icy, Wednesday night was the perfect time for Turners Falls firefighters to brush up on skills for releasing trapped accident victims from mangled cars — especially with winter coming.
Six firefighters on the department’s call force spent about two hours practicing extrication measures on battered, junked cars donated by Byrne’s Towing for the session. The firefighters practice with Hurst Jaws of Life tools and air chisels. Capt. Michael Curry Jr. was the training officer and Geoffrey Ellis was the assistant training officer.
Ellis said the department trains twice monthly, on Wednesday nights, in various emergency techniques.
“It is imperative firefighters train and practice the skills needed to extricate a person who is trapped in a motor vehicle. In a serious motor vehicle accident, time is of the essence,” the department posted on its Facebook website.