Fire Department comes to your rescue
07-18-09
Tribune Photo / Fred Poese
Lee's Summit Firefighter / EMT Andy Foster (left) and fireflighter / paramedic Andy Hilbrich (right) prepare their new Rescue Unit for the next emergency.
By Leah Morgan / Contributing Writer
As the third installment of our 5-week series covering all of the functions of the Lee’s Summit Fire Department, this week our focus is on Rescue Services.
Rescue covers a wide variety of problems and situations. The Fire Department is equipped with vehicle extraction equipment similar to a Jaws of Life. They can take a car apart from around a victim. Water and heights rescue are also common calls for the rescue division. Sometimes it may be something as minor as someone getting stuck on the roof of their home and it may be as serious as someone trapped in a well. Battalion Chief Jim Eden says, “We’re usually getting people out of places they shouldn’t have been in in the first place.”
The department is equipped with shoring equipment for trench rescues, building collapses, high-angle rescues and swift water rescues as well. The training for these types of rescues is very dangerous. Underwater Rescue and Recovery and the Missouri Water Patrol handle underwater rescue missions.
Another type of rescue the Fire Department wants you to know about is animal rescue. Many times humans get themselves into a predicament that requires that they be rescued while they are trying to rescue an animal. Call the Fire Department if there is an animal in need of rescue and they will respond. Battalion Chief Eden says, “When in doubt, call.”
Dialing 911 is the best way to summon the fire department, but for non-emergency questions or concerns, they can be reached at 816-969-7407.
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