Blacksburg firefighter Lt. Brian Falls describes how new technical rescue equipment will help make the community safer. The equipment was purchased with a grant from the Alcoa Foundation. The Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Department has purchased rescue equipment that should make the entire county feel safer.

With a $5,000 grant from the Alcoa Foundation, the local fire department has purchased trench rescue equipment. The grant from Alcoa is one of the first received from an industry by the local department and will allow the firefighters to respond to difficult rescues in confined spaces.

The Paratech equipment, which can be operated pneumatically or manually, will allow the firefighters to support a collapsed structure while working to rescue anyone trapped inside. It can also be used in vehicle extrications.

Trench panels, or specially supported sheets of plywood, are used with pneumatic stut extensions that can be expanded using firefighters' air packs to aid in rescues at construction sites where trenches or other "fill dirt" areas collapse, trapping workers. The panels ensure proper stabilization and support while firefighters work to access victims.

"This type of equipment was used in the Twin Towers, Oklahoma City and after Hurricane Katrina," said Blacksburg firefighter Lt. Brian Falls, who has received trench rescue training from the Cleveland County Community College. "Hopefully we will never have to use it, but if we do, we'll be ready."

Falls said the department has enough equipment to support about an eight-foot deep rescue site.

"It's enough to get started and launch a pretty good offensive," he said, adding that Cowpens Fire Department, which is also in the process of receiving training and equipment, can be called as backup.

Emergency responders in Cleveland County and Charlotte also have similar equipment and can be called for assistance. If there had been a structural collapse before Blacksburg received the rescue equipment, Cherokee County firefighters would have had to wait on the North Carolina agencies to respond.

Falls said they would like to build a technical rescue team with local firefighters. The department is also hoping to receive urban search and rescue training next year.

Blacksburg firefighters have also attended rope training and repelling training in North Carolina as well as vehicle extrication training in Georgia.

Falls encouraged any business and industry to consider making a tax-deductible donation to a local department.

"A lot of industries don't realize how they can help," he said. "Even crowbars, hammers and chains can help. Departments countywide could benefit from that."

Anyone interested in donating money toward the purchase of rescue equipment for the Blacksburg department can contact Chief Danny McDaniel, Lt. Brian Falls, or the Blacksburg Town Hall at (864) 839-2333.