Technical Rescue Training To Be Visible At Wilson Bridge In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — If you notice a large first responder presence below the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Alexandria, it's because of technical rescue exercises with fire departments from multiple localities.

The 28th annual Rescue Challenge is being held Monday to Thursday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Technical rescue teams from Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and the U.S. Army will conduct live rescue training scenarios under the Wilson Bridge on the Alexandria side and other locations. Residents should be aware the training will be visible from Jones Point Park, including a dummy suspended from the bridge at least twice each day. The training will not impact traffic.

The technical rescue teams come from the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, and the US Army 911th Technical Rescue Engineer Company.

"Scenarios have been designed to challenge participants’ technical expertise and teamwork and expand their skills in hazardous environments," the Alexandria Fire Department said in a news release. "To accomplish this, rescue scenarios will be set in a wide variety of environments, including Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The Alexandria Fire Department is committed to preparing as well as possible to keep the community safe."

According to Arlington County, training scenarios include vehicle and machinery extrication, heavy lifting and moving, high-angle rope rescue, trench rescue, building collapse, confined space rescue, and civil unrest. Settings for training range from in the air and underground to the Wilson Bridge and a communications tower.

Other locations for the training are: Washington, D.C. Fire Department Training Academy, Arlington County Fire Department Training Academy, Lorton Training Site, Fort Belvoir's Army Museum Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Training Academy, Luck Stone in Loudoun County, Prince William County Public Safety Training Academy, Gainesville and Prince William County Fire and Rescue Training Academy.