Saranac Lake Fire Department

A search and rescue team from the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department moves in to enter the building.

Smoke billowing from Hillside Hall, A college dormitory at Paul Smiths College sets the stage for the drill. A very heavy application of artificial smoke created a zero visibility environment to facilitate realistic training for search and rescue teams.

The Saint Regis Falls and Tupper Lake Volunteer Fire Departments arrive on scene.

Duane ETA 191 Drafts Water from a local water source.

Members of the Duane VFD conduct water supply operations.

A strainer in place provides protection to the pumps. It is attached to suction hose which is attached to Duane ETA 191. The strainer prevents debris from the natural water source from being sucked into the pumps.

Command Post Members from the Paul Smiths Gabriels Fire Department (Red) brief incoming responders.

Large Diameter Hose being supplied from Bloomingale ETA-122.

Members of the Franklin County Rehab team, provide rehab services to firefighters as they exit the building. Responders are expected to go through Rehab and be checked out after expending 2 bottles of breathing air.

Ambulances from the Saint Regis Falls Volunteer Fire Department and the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad provide EMS back up at the scene.

After an exhausting drill, responders clean up and put the equipment back in service.

L-R Lieutenant Don Jones, 2nd Assistant Chief James D'Ambro, and Lieutenant Doug Peck, head back to the truck after completion of the drill.


By SLVFD News Room
June 11, 2016

Today, members of multiple agencies participated in a drill hosted by the Paul Smith's-Gabriels Volunteer Fire Department. This drill simulated a fire in an occupied college dormitory at the Paul Smiths College. At 6:55am this morning the responders were dispatched to to a dormitory fire with entrapment. The drill required the responders to practice incident command, initial attack, search and rescue, water supply, mayday, and rehabilitation procedures at full speed in full gear. The stage was set in an actual college dorm using artificial smoke to the extent of zero visibility for the search and rescue teams. There were actual victims to be rescued and the scenario included firefighter maydays. Large diameter hose was actually stretched and charged. It was only a drill but responders were placed under real time stress. The following agencies participated: The Paul Smiths-Gabriels Fire Department, The Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department, The Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department, The Tupper Lake Volunteer Fire Department, The Duane Volunteer Fire Department, The Saint Regis Falls Volunteer Fire Department, The Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad, and the Franklin County Office of Emergency Services. The SLVFD and all area departments work very hard to stay trained and ready to respond to all sorts of emergencies. Teamwork between the various departments is key. Todays training is an example of all that our volunteers do to keep us safe.