Groveland and Haverhill Fire Departments Complete Technical Rescue Training

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HAVERHILL– Fire Chief William Laliberty and Groveland Fire Chief Robert Lay are pleased to announce that several firefighters from the Haverhill and Groveland Fire Departments completed technical rescue training last week.

On Friday, Sept. 30, Groveland firefighters Stephen Merrill and Brian Belfiore, along with 11 Haverhill firefighters — John Stronach, John Farrell, Tim Stronach, Gregg Roberts, Bill Cowl, Chris Salamone, Chris Hamel, Chris Jones, Robert Irvine, Bryan Ray and Raymond Robinson — arrived at the Haverhill Department of Public Works to complete the last eight hours of a 32-hour trench rescue training.

This was the first time the Haverhill Fire Department hosted the trench rescue course in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. Haverhill firefighters completed the training to further build on their operational awareness in this area of technical rescue within the fire service.

“Trench rescue is an extremely involved facet of the fire industry and one of the most dangerous operations to perform,” Chief Laliberty said. “This highly involved training provided firefighters with the necessary skills to build a rescue system and successfully free a trapped person without endangering their lives and others.”

For Groveland firefighters, this was the final series of training needed for the two men to become Pro Board Certified Technical Rescuers with the Northeast Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team.

Firefighters Merrill and Belfiore have spent the last year completing courses in the technical rescue training program with the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. Classes include:

Rope Rescue Operational Level: how to handle basic rope rescues on cliffs, buildings, etc.
Rope Rescue Technician Level: learning how to to build the rope systems for rescues and be decision makers during the rescue procedure.
Confined Space Technician Level: training on how to perform rescues and the procedure for completing hazard and risk assessments for rescues in confined areas.
Surface Swift Water Rescue Operational Level: focused on water rescues and how to build rope systems.
Trench Rescue Technician Level: taught firefighters different ways to build safe systems to work inside dangerous trenches, along with how to decide what type of system to build for rescues.

With all their training completed, the Groveland and Haverhill firefighters will now pursue taking their final written exams to become Pro Board Certified Technical Rescuers. Once passed, Groveland firefighters Merrill and Belfiore will apply to be members of the Northeast Massachusetts Technical Rescue Team. The Haverhill Fire Department currently has one member on the Northeast Technical Team, Firefighter Glen Monigle.

“I commend firefighters Merrill and Belfiore for their dedication to this training program and for their aspirations to join the state’s technical rescue team,” Chief Lay said. “Completing this level of training is no easy feat and will be a great benefit to the entire department.”

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