October 15, 2025 - Union firefighters trained on search, rescue, and EMS skills in woodland areas. Although suburban, our fire district contains large wooded areas and parks. Members worked together in small teams to locate reported victims in small teams. The teams used both dispatched victim location GPS coordinates and traditional search techniques where the specific victim location was unknown. Once the teams found their victims they had to evaluate and treat the victims injuries while preparing/arranging to extricate them from their remote locations through incident command. This included pediatric and adult patients. Patient extrication took place using our Union 7-3 UTV and walk out carries.
Asst. Chief Monson and Captain VanDewater Assist Lt. Calderone in setting up Incident Command, While 7-3 Begins Their Search.
Union 7-3 and It's crew Searching for the Initial victims (Photo Credit to our Victim, Amanda Miller)
Union 7-3 Locating our victims.
(L to R) Firefighters Welz, Incorvaia, Captain T. Wzientek and Lt. Gutowski stabilize our victims leg injury with a Traction Splint.
Union 7-3's Crew, Stabilizing located Victims
Lt. Gutowski and Captain T. Wzientek Unloading our Adult Victim from the rear of Union 7-3. Our Pediatric Victim (Josh) watches on.
Removing our Second Adult Victim From 7-3 on our Stokes Basket
At the Conclusion of every Training, Union Firefighters hold a quick huddle to discuss the training, what went well, what - if anything, did not go well, and discuss our tactics.
Union 7-3 After Dropping off our Victims at the remote Location
Crews at the Command Post after Training.
Union Squad 5 provided light, equipment and manpower for our training.
Past Chief Justin Miller and Captain T. Wzientek conversing.
