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Western Wayne USAR team’s unique training

By Sarah Shurge out with the vehicles, and J&M Tow-
On Tuesday, April 8th, a car dan- ing lifted the car. It was a huge dona-
gled from the parking structure in tion.”
Wayne. “Why?”, you might ask. Having a car suspended from the
It was a training opportunity for side of the parking structure may
our Western Wayne USAR team. seem bizarre, however it was simu-
Western Wayne County Fire De - lating a real instance that happened
partment Mutual Aid Association is in Louisville, Kentucky, when a semi-
a group of suburban Detroit-area truck dangled off a bridge.
Fire Departments (21 departments Using a rope rescue system,
total) with two Wayne County Special USAR members had to rappel down
Teams: Hazmat and Urban Search the side of the parking structure and
and Rescue (USAR). open the car door with the jaws of
Hazmat handles spills, while life to rescue two mannequins from
USAR handles technical rescues. inside the car.
Started in 2007, USAR has 46 Members were on several levels
members from the 21 departments. of the parking structure, all with im-
These members train for “high- portant roles to play during the train-
risk/low-frequency” scenarios. These ing.
scenarios involve the use of multiple “It was great seeing how excited
training disciplines and require the guys were to do something new
more personnel and equipment than Members of the Western Wayne County Fire Department Mutual Aid Association and different,” said Reeves. “It chal-
a typical fire department response lenged our guys and everyone was
could provide. pose for a picture after setting up their training scenario. engaged throughout the whole train-
USAR’s main disciplines are: Updates and Wayne Fire Department, put it on radar for training,” said ing.”
trench rescue, high angle rope res- USAR conducted a training that uti- Jason Reeves, USAR Rescue Team Because USAR handles events
cue, structural collapse, confined lized the Wayne parking structure Manager. “Lori Gouin (DDA Direc- that are not frequent, the team meets
space, and heavy vehicle extrication. that is soon to be demolished. tor) did a great job orchestrating monthly to train on topics to stay
In partnership with the City of “The city is tearing down the park - everything, Diane Webb (City Man-
Wayne Administration Community ing structure which allowed us to ager) was approving, Frazier’s came See USAR, page 11

The Wayne Dispatch · May 2025 · 9