U.S. Navy photo by Joseph P. Cirone Naval Support Activity Washington firefighters remove emergency equipment from their fire rescue engine to perform rescue and hazardous materials response tasks.

The exercise, held in October, was designed to practice joint operations, techniques, procedures, command and control and enhance the communication among the services and interagency federal, state and local partners.

Multiple scenarios encountered in June exercise

For five days in June, NSAW F⁄ES staged a joint building collapse training exercise at the Bolling Air Force Base (BAFB) Hickam Village housing complex.

NSAW Fire Chief Mark Hendley said the fact that the multiple two story wood frame houses were slated for demolition made them ‘‘perfect for the purpose.”

Firefighters from NSAW and DCFD worked together, addressing several different scenarios. Those included simulated natural gas leaks and explosions, a vehicle running into a building, trapped victims, destructive weather events, and terrorist attacks. The training also gave rescuers the opportunity to practice with specialized equipment.

Working through practical exercises, rescuers stabilized parts of the buildings to prevent collapse and secured simulated leaks in natural gas lines.

Rescuers drag victim to safety

Responding to another scenario, NSAW F⁄ES (Acting) Capt. Kathryn Fortgang and Engine Company 43 firefighters Ray Stokes, Keith Mitchell and Steven Hainey worked with the crews of DCFD Rescue Squads 1 and 3 to break through a building’s brick wall, allowing entry into the building to search for and rescue a victim reported to be trapped on the second floor.

The three crews worked to construct sufficient wooden support to stabilize the second floor, which, according to the scenario, had been deemed unsafe. Rescuers worked with rulers, saws, nails and hammers to mitigate the potential for collapse and minimize the risks to themselves and the victim – a lifelike mannequin.

Once the support structure was in place, rescuers entered the holes in the brick wall on their hands and knees and searched the second floor; located the victim and performed basic life support while moving the unconscious victim through the wall openings for removal from the building. Once on the ground, rescuers provided more advanced emergency medical treatment.

Peeling roofs, popping doors and avoiding hazards

In another scenario, NSAW F⁄ES Engines 42 and 43 worked with DCFD Rescue Squads 1 and 2 to extricate a person trapped inside of a vehicle that crashed into one of the buildings. According to the scenario two victims were injured, trapped and heard calling for help from inside the structure.

Rescuers built a wooden support structure, cut metal posts on the vehicle, peeled its roof back, popped doors open and gently pushed seats back to access and remove the trapped victim.

Other rescuers entered the building and encountered obstacles and challenges associated with a simulated rupture of a natural gas line and a subsequent explosion. The debris field consisted of sharp bits of metal that could shred a rescuer’s protective clothing, furniture, drywall, fallen beams, glass and household items that the rescuers needed to avoid, move, remove or otherwise contend with as they crawled on their hands and knees in the darkened interior of the building. Negotiating the hazards, the rescuers searched for, located and removed both trapped victims.

Real emergencies happen, plans in place

Day three of the training reminded everyone that real emergencies continue to happen. ‘‘Just as the units were getting setup, they were pulled away to respond to a multiple alarm fire in the District of Columbia,” Hendley said.

To ensure fire and rescue protection during the training periods, NSAW Engines 41 and 44 remained ready for real emergencies on the four NSAW installations and at BAFB, Hendley said.

‘‘The week’s training was a great opportunity to meet the players that would be involved if a serious incident were to occur on any of the NSAW installations.”

Each of the four DCFD Special Operations platoons and both NSAW F⁄ES platoons participated in the training.

‘‘They had the chance to learn what the expectations and capabilities of each department are. It is always nice to know who you will be working with before the incident occurs rather than find out in the heat of battle,” Hendley said.