Montclair Firefighters Train On New Equipment, Practice Escapes

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair firefighters have been training to use some new equipment that will help protect them when they battle blazes, authorities say.

According to a statement from the Montclair Fire Department:

“Recently, Montclair firefighters received new personal escape systems. Unfortunately, firefighters can become trapped on the upper floors of fires they combat. These systems allow firefighters to have a means of egress during an emergency. Many variables can and do contribute to a firefighter becoming trapped. Things like weather, building renovations, staffing, water supply, and reports of people trapped – to name a few – can all play a part. With these systems, a trapped firefighter with no way out can secure an anchor inside of a building, and then descend to safety on rope.”

Being proficient in skills like these requires several days of training at a minimum for each member of the department – and it’s only one of many such trainings that firefighters must successfully complete, the MFD stated.

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