By Amy Batista, Special Writer
CRANBURY – Local fire departments teamed up last week at a local garage to put their skills to the test.
Cranbury Volunteer Fire Company hosted a joint extrication drill and invited neighboring Hightstown Engine Co. No. 1 to join them April 21 at George’s Garage & Towing.
“This drill was to emphasize the role the towing company can play in a large vehicle accident scenario,” said Cranbury Volunteer Fire Company Chief Michael Kervan in an email on Tuesday. “George’s Garage, the Cranbury Vol. Fire Co., and Hightstown Fire Co. all work closely together on the NJ Turnpike and on our local roads whenever there is a motor vehicle accident. George’s Garage has been a great asset providing vehicles and a place for us to train, as well as a great source of knowledge on towing and recovery operations.”
Chief Kervan said that the Cranbury Vol. Fire Co. and Hightstown Fire Co. respond out to the turnpike between exits 8 and 8A and to the Molly Pitcher Rest Area together.
“It is important for the two fire companies and George’s to train together so we remain familiar with each other’s tools and techniques in extrication operations,” said Chief Kervan.
Throughout the evening, Tony Alfano, owner of George’s, made announcements as to what his men were going to teach during the drill. They hooked up to a tractor trailer and helped lift it off the car, which was trapped underneath with a “patient” inside, to provide assistance to the fire department.
“The local firemen are very dedicated to improving and branching out on their rescue techniques and growing with the evolution of fire rescue,” said Mr. Alfano.
Mr. Alfano was approached by Cranbury and Hightstown fire companies after a large dump truck overturned pinning the driver inside in a 2015 accident.
“The state police called us to head to the scene and assist Monroe Fire to lift the dump truck off the person so they could remove him. Our efforts saved his leg from having to be removed to extract him from the wreck,” said Mr. Alfano.
Shortly after that accident, Mr. Alfano was having a conversation with Jeremy Watkins about doing cross training in case that scenario happened again on the turnpike or elsewhere. The cross training would help firefighters see the effects the large tow trucks could have on rescues with heavy trucks involving entrapment.
“As far as the wreckers, tow trucks have come a long way in the past few years. We are fortunate enough to have six very large tow trucks similar to the one used in the demonstration,” said Mr. Alfano. “Our newest one can slide the crane portion to the back and lift a tremendous amount of weight.
“There are also various techniques for lifting large trucks that myself and my men have acquired having been towing for 20 years or better. I personally have assisted in dozens of rescues on the highways of New Jersey during my career, and look forward to growing with my peers of the local fire companies to benefit our local communities,” said Mr. Alfano. Around 40 firefighters participated in the drill. Chief Kervan said there were 13 firefighters from his department who attended the drill.
“Firefighters used Cranbury and Hightstown’s extrication tools – the Jaws of Life – to perform extrication of simulated patients in conjunction with the heavy duty tow apparatus from George’s,” he said.
Firefighters learned how the companies can work together to solve complex extrication scenarios, he said.
Chief Kervan added that the fire companies are always looking for new members to join their volunteer ranks.
