Special Operation: Firefighters demonstrate confined space rescue

by Kelli Cheatham (kcheatham@wsbt.com)

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rescuers lift victim from confined space

South Bend Firefighters lift a confined space victim to safety in a training exercise Friday morning. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: May 23, 2008 at 6:34 AM EST

Story Updated: May 23, 2008 at 7:50 AM EST

SOUTH BEND — The thought of getting stuck or trapped inside a very small space can be scary. But if you or someone else can call for help, local firefighters are trained to perform rescues in those situations.

In a simulation with South Bend firefighters Friday, WSBT showed how the rescuers would respond to a call of a worker hurt at the bottom of a 25-foot-deep space. The entry to the space looked much like a manhole, and was only about 18 inches wide.

They haven't ever had to go into a confined space for a rescue in South Bend, but the confined space rescue team was used to take the bodies of four men out of manholes in January 2007. Those homeless men were murdered by two other homeless men.

"Confined space entries take place on a daily basis," explained South Bend Fire Captain Mark Tice. "So we're on standby on a regular basis — every day."

South Bend's Tactical Rescue Team has been in operation for about 17 years, Tice said. The team is deployed for building collapses, confined rescue scenarios, trench rescues, water rescues and rope rescues.

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