Western Wayne USAR team’s unique training

Members of the Western Wayne County Fire Department Mutual Aid Association pose for a picture after setting up their training scenario.

By Sarah Shurge – On Tuesday, April 8th, a car dangled from the parking structure in Wayne. “Why?”, you might ask.
It was a training opportunity for our Western Wayne USAR team.
Western Wayne County Fire Department Mutual Aid Association is a group of suburban Detroit-area Fire Departments (21 departments total) with two Wayne County Special Teams: Hazmat and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR).
Hazmat handles spills, while USAR handles technical rescues.
Started in 2007, USAR has 46 members from the 21 departments.
These members train for “high-risk/low-frequency” scenarios. These scenarios involve the use of multiple training disciplines and require more personnel and equipment than a typical fire department response could provide.
USAR’s main disciplines are: trench rescue, high angle rope rescue, structural collapse, confined space, and heavy vehicle extrication.
In partnership with the City of Wayne Administration Community Updates and Wayne Fire Department, USAR conducted a training that utilized the Wayne parking structure that is soon to be demolished.
“The city is tearing down the parking structure which allowed us to put it on radar for training,” said Jason Reeves, USAR Rescue Team Manager. “Lori Gouin (DDA Director) did a great job orchestrating everything, Diane Webb (City Manager) was approving, Frazier’s came out with the vehicles, and J&M Towing lifted the car. It was a huge donation.”
Having a car suspended from the side of the parking structure may seem bizarre, however it was simulating a real instance that happened in Louisville, Kentucky, when a semi-truck dangled off a bridge.
Using a rope rescue system, USAR members had to rappel down the side of the parking structure and open the car door with the jaws of life to rescue two mannequins from inside the car.
Members were on several levels of the parking structure, all with important roles to play during the training.

Western Wayne County Fire Department Mutual Aid Association team member getting lowered down off the parking structure to begin the extraction training. Photo by John Rhaesa

“It was great seeing how excited the guys were to do something new and different,” said Reeves. “It challenged our guys and everyone was engaged throughout the whole training.”
Because USAR handles events that are not frequent, the team meets monthly to train on topics to stay proficient.
Reeves is an original USAR member from 2007 and was previously on the Metro Airport Technical Rescue Team since 2001.
“My favorite part is seeing how far USAR has progressed and come since we’ve started,” said Reeves.
On Tuesday, February 25th, USAR was dispatched to the City of Wyandotte to assist Wyandotte Firefighters IAFF Local 356 with a trench rescue response.
Two victims were confirmed in an approximately 15’-20’ deep trench. These individuals were working on a sanitary sewer repair, when the side wall of the trench collapsed on one of the workers. The second victim also became trapped while trying to assist the first.
USAR team members arrived and established an Incident Action Plan (IAP) with Wyandotte Fire Department Incident Command.
Team members were able to begin hazard relief measures by installing trench panels and shoring to provide a safer environment for the victim. Then entry crews began rescue efforts. Squads worked to expand the shored area, provide continuous medical care, and carefully work to hand dig material from around the victim.
However, due to the complexity of this scene, Washtenaw County Technical Rescue Team was contacted for additional assistance and resources.
Trench rescue situations are often fatal, however, due to the support of all responding agencies who worked together, the best possible outcome was achieved and the rescue was successful.
USAR is able to be a part of success stories like this due to the challenging training the crew undergoes, such as the one at the parking structure in Wayne.
“My favorite part is working together as a team on very cool and complex training that you don’t get to normally do,” said Shawn Skelly, USAR Team Administration.
Skelly has been a firefighter for 21 years, a member of the USAR team since 2013, and Administration since May 1st.
Western Wayne USAR is always looking for new locations, places, or old buildings to train at. If you know of any locations or you’re interested in supporting Western Wayne USAR, you can email Skelly at shawn.skelly@cantonmi.gov.
For more information about Western Wayne County Fire Department Mutual Aid Association, visit wwmutualaid.com.
For more information about Western Wayne USAR, visit the previous website and click the “Special Teams” tab, or you can find them on Facebook by searching “Western Wayne County Urban Search and Rescue – USAR”.
To watch 7 Action News coverage of the parking structure training, scan the QR code.
We thank Western Wayne USAR for all the amazing work they do!