Well if Bud finds a clue somewhere and is really concerned about the CVFD he better get educated as to how the introduction of several hundred 500 ft. industrial wind turbines between Iberdrola and BP will have a serious and potentially very dangerous impact on his favorite fire dept. Maybe he figures his step ladder will take care of it!!! Or I am sure he believes BP when they probably tell him it's no big deal!
The area will suddenly be faced with a radical change in the fire / rescue paradigm with the introduction of people like construction and maintenance workers interacting with vertical structures of extreme height that will present a new and very risky challenge to any FD not to mention a small rural volunteer FD. The potential rescue fire environment will now extend vertically a significant distance with numerous tall structures spread over a wide area.
High angle or vertical rescue to be done effectively and with some probability of lowering that risk takes detailed and repeated training with expensive, sophisticated equipment and techniques. You don't just go out to the barn and get a rope and hook it to a tractor!!!
Cliff rescue training
Cliff rescue training. Stranded climber "pickoff"
On my search and rescue team we work and train with local fire depts. the Grand Canyon Nat. Park SAR team, other SAR teams and sometimes even military assets in handling all kinds of emergencies including canyon, mountain, cliff and other vertical rescue situations and includes the use of helicopters in these vertical rescue scenarios which in itself is very risky and requires another special level of awareness and training. In addition we are trained with ski patrol to rescue people from high ski lifts that might failed.
stranded mt. climber in vertical terrain.
"Shorthall" operation. Rescuer on a special rope rigging setup
under the helicopter picks off the injured climber
and the helo lifts him to a safe LZ.
Medical helicopter safety training.
Helicopter and SAR team at 12,000 ft. in the N. AZ mountains.
Ship lifting another seriously injured mt. climber to the hospital.
For perspective of the magnitude of some of our vertical terrain SAR operations, a
helicopter (white arrow) searching for a missing hiker in the extreme vertical Grand
Canyon terrain. Probable fall victim who was never found.
So if Mr. Constance wants to get a clue and really do something to help his FD he should pay attention and get on the stick about this vertical rescue issue the CVFD could be facing.
Last year with my annual donation to the CVFD I included a letter to the chief about some of these issues and some places or literature where the CVFD could at least get an awareness level grasp on the issue about techniques and equipment beyond what BP might tell them. I'm sure like everything else in the wind propaganda BP will down play the issue. I never got a response back from the CVFD. Maybe Bud if he is involved with the CVFD figured he knew all there was to know about the issue. I noted in the BP's PIP there was one meeting with the town supervisor, the planning board chairman, and the CV fire chief about safety issues. Believe it will take one hell of a lot more time and planning than that to properly handle this issue!!!
Here for example might be a good place to start. The company Petzl makes all kinds off equipment for the recreational climbers, canyoneers, cavers, and professionals who work in vertical environments like trees, window washers, towers, ,AND wind turbines etc. Apparently Petzl also does wind turbine training. Maybe Bud and the CVFD should sign up!
http://www.petzl.com/us/pro/news-pro-0/2009/08/13/wind-turbine-rope-access-and-confined-space-rescue-workshop
To get a feel for what this is about and how demanding and complicated it is and the level of training required take a look at the interesting Petzl video in the website header menu. It's a good introduction.
Here is another video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xaz7BECTKs
And here is a website outlining the vertical rescue issue.
http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/2011/06/high-angle-potter.html
I hope the CVFD and the CV town board and planning board (and Bud!) take a good look at this information.
I would also suggest that a coordinated effort to address this issue should take place with all local fire depts. that might respond in a mutual aid situation. Also contact Ft. Drum since I am sure the 10th Mountain Division trains on these techniques. And as I understand it there is also a new EMS helicopter service in the area that should be brought into the loop? Obviously the Jefferson County emergency management staff should be involved.
Of course my 1st hope is BP will go away and none of this will be necessary!
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