City Firefighters Practice School Bus Extrication | News, Sports, Jobs

photo by: Photo by Shelley Hanson

Wheeling Fire Department firefighters cut through metal on the school bus to make a wider opening during the training scenario on Tuesday.

WHEELING — Wheeling Fire Department firefighters got the chance to use some of the tools of their trade — including the Jaws of Life — during a practice scenario involving an SUV versus a school bus.

The fire department purchased an old school bus for $1 from Ohio County Schools to use during the extrication training held Tuesday at the department’s facility on Wheeling Island.

The SUV used during the training was donated by Ace Garage. Braden Towing also was on hand during the training and used its heavy wrecker with a crane to lift the bus.

The scenario was that the driver of the SUV was texting while driving and then ran into the back of the bus, which caused the front of the vehicle to go under the bus’ rear end.

Firefighters first stabilized the bus with wood blocks and then jacks to lift the bus off of the SUV. Then they used the Jaws of Life to cut the driver’s and passenger side door off the vehicle.

They received instruction and guidance along the way.

Firefighters then went inside the bus to practice removing windows and some seats to create a bigger opening to the outside. This would allow firefighters to more easily remove injured passengers.

“School buses are designed to be strong to keep kids safe in a wreck. When they designed it like that it makes it a challenge for us; we have to cut into it to get somebody out if they are trapped,” said Wheeling Fire Department Assistant Chief Dave Harmon. “This allows our guys to actually get some experience on where to cut and to access somebody.”

The training was led by Wheeling Fire Department Capt. Chris Fabrizio, who took a class on school bus extrication. Harmon noted school buses are not usually available, but in this case the bus was going to be sold at public auction anyway.

“They realize the benefit for them, too,” Harmon said of the schools. “Some of their drivers and mechanics can come over and see.”

Harmon noted it is important to work with the towing companies as they have the capability to lift the bus off a vehicle.

“Braden’s can pick the bus up off the car so we can access a patient,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of different vehicles. We’ve never done a school bus that I know of here.”

Harmon said the training with the bus can help in other scenarios as well.

“The car aspect of it, this could be any truck you see on the road. We have those quite often on the interstate,” he said.

Brian Beckett, a bus driver with Ohio County Schools, attended the training along with some other school personnel.

“We do our emergency evacuation drills twice a year so all the students know how to get out of the bus safely if something were to happen,” Beckett said. “This is a real nice opportunity for these guys to have some training. Let’s hope this situation never happens, but it’s always nice to be prepared.”

Beckett said the school’s training allows new students or students who haven’t been on a bus previously to get practice exiting safely.

“A lot of the kids like going out the back door because they never get to do that. So they enjoy that on the fire drills,” he said. “It’s good training. As long as they’re learning. Everybody leaves their stuff and gets out of the bus. All their stuff can be replaced.”