A number of firefighting crews have been camped out along a main road at Michigan State University for the last couple of days. They’ve been taking part in an annual training exercise to learn how to rescue victims trapped in confined spaces. Current State’s Kevin Lavery reports that it turns out MSU has an ideal spot for this type of instruction.Thousands of people in this community drive along Farm Lane near the intersection of Trowbridge Road. There’s a railroad bridge there, and the road beneath is in a fairly low lying area at that spot. Right next to that bridge is an enormous circular concrete pad with some steel hatches on it. It’s a pump house that’s designed to remove rainwater that might flood the road under the bridge. It’s about 30 feet underground, and obviously people have to operate and maintain the machinery down there. It’s dark, it’s cramped, and it’s not the kind of place where you want to find yourself stuck.
Local firefighters train for difficult rescues
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Firefighters must sometimes rescue victims trapped in confined spaces, like underground equipment rooms.
Kevin Lavery/WKAR
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This underground pump house at Michigan State University is about 30 feet deep.
Kevin Lavery/WKAR
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Crews from Lansing, East Lansing, Delta Township and Meridian Township prepare for the confined space rescue exercise at MSU.
Kevin Lavery/WKAR
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Rescue personnel working in tight spaces must have oxygen fed to them from the surface.
WKAR/Kevin Lavery
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A paramedic prepares to be lowered below ground to search for and retrieve a 180-pound mannequin.
WKAR/Kevin Lavery
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The mannequin is hoisted up. In a real scenario, workers trapped below ground could fall victim to toxic gases that may render them unconscious.
WKAR/Kevin Lavery
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The first of two rescue workers is brought back up to the surface.
WKAR/Kevin Lavery
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East Lansing Fire Captain Greg Baker (second from left) reviews the rescue procedures with his training team.
WKAR/Kevin Lavery
