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Firefighter Assist and Search Team
"A Firefighter's True Rescue Team"
HISTORY
In 1997, (then) Lt. George Keesler was very interested in starting the Mohegan FD F.A.S. Team. A F.A.S. Team is short for Firefighter Assist and Search Team. This team responds under the Mutual Aid Agreement to other Fire Depts. to standby at the scene of fires or other hazardous conditions for the purpose of rescuing trapped, injured, missing or disoriented firefighters. Lt. George Keesler was instrumental in this process by gathering information about such a team through the New York City Fire Dept. and Rockland County. Up to this point, FDNY and some Rockland County FD's were the only regional areas to have teams of firefighters specifically trained in firefighter search and rescue. Once approved by the Lake Mohegan Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners, a group of hand chosen interior firefighters began extensive training in firefighter rescue techniques under the command of (then) Lt.'s Keesler and Ray Stretz. During this year-long training process, one of Mohegan's firefighters became trapped in a structure fire. Although trapped under a roof collapse and unable to move, this firefighter was found and rescued by Mohegan's bravest, due to the training that was being taught to the F.AS. Team. Due to this incident, there was a greater push and need to get such a team up and running in the Westchester and Putnam County area. Finally in June of 1998, the Mohegan FD F.A.S. Team was fully operational and ready to respond. The first F.A.S. Team call, ironically, occurred a just a month later. The team responded in July to a structure fire in the Village of Croton. Although there was some optimism at first, the concept was a big hit, once proven how effective this team is! Croton, Yorktown Heights, Bedford Hills FD, and Peekskill FD's soon followed with each having there own teams, which in turn support Mohegan Firefighters. Because of this asset, many departments throughout Westchester and Putnam County rely on our F.A.S Team as part of the response to structure fires or other emergencies. The apparatus designated for the F.A.S. Team is Eng. 255, while Eng. 257 or Eng 258 will respond in place of Eng. 255, if its unavailable. To date, the F.A.S Team responds on an average of 20-30 calls annually and continue to train and grasp more knowledge in firefighter rescue techniques.
ON SCENE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Firefighter Accountibility
- Egress points by opening windows/doors; Removing hazards (fences, debris, etc)
- Placing ladders at the base windows on different sides/floors of the building
- Walking around entire building for size up of scene
- Strategically placing members to stand by various locations for entry points
- Pointing out/mitigating hazards throughout incident to Incident Commanders
- Extensive search and rescue maneuvers and techniques, if the need arises
MOHEGAN F.A.S. TEAM HAS RESPONDED TO ASSIST :
WESTCHESTER COUNTY: PUTNAM COUNTY:
Bedford Hills FD Mahopac FD
Buchanan FD Mahopac Falls FD
Continental Village FD Putnam Valley FD
Croton FD
Montrose FD
City of Peekskill FD
Ossining FD
Somers FD
Yorktown Heights FD
APPARATUS EQUIPMENT USED:
Engine 256 (Primary FAST Rig)
- Stokes Basket
- Backboard
- (2) 6' Steel Hooks
- (2) 8' Steel Hooks
- Partner K-12 Saw
- Echo Roof Saw
- Scott RIT Bag
- (2) Sets of Irons [Flat Head Axe and Halligan]
- Spare Scott Air Bottle
- 200' of 1/2" Rescue Rope
- Streamlight Lightbox or Vulcan hand-held Lights
- Bullard Thermal Imaging Camara
- (6 bags) 50' of 3/8" Personal Search Rope
- (1 bag) 200' of 9mm Tag Line Rope
- Bag to hold Personal Rope Bags, Harnesess, Carabiners, Pulleys , Roof Anchor, and a
Lowering Rack for High Angle Rope Rescue and Rappelling
PERSONNEL EQUIPMENT:
- Gemtor Harnesses
- Full gear including SCBA [Scott Airpacks]
- Streamlight Survivor light
- 25' of webbing
- 50' Personal Bailout System
- Portable Radio
- Various Personal Escape Tools (Knife, Lineman's Cutters, Leatherman, Screwdrivers)
SCENE SHOTS:
FASTeam Arriving at a Structure Fire in Putnam Valley:
FAS-Team Operating In Mahopac Falls:
FAS-Team Arriving In Peekskill:
Standing By At A Yorktown Fire:
Sizing Up Fire In Montrose:
Setting Up On Scene In Peekskill:
Arriving In Mahopac Falls:
On Location In Peekskill:
Clearing FAS-Team Run To Putnam Valley:
Another Night In Mahopac Falls:
Standing By In Peekskill Again:
Fire Knocked Down While Assisting In Peekskill:
Engine 255:
Heavy Fire In Peekskill:
Assisiting Our Neighbors To Our North...Putnam Valley:
Smoke Showing In Mahopac:
Mutual Aid To Assist Montrose:
TRAINING SHOTS:
Removing FF From 2nd Floor Window:
Stokes Basket Training:
Air Bag Training To Lift Trapped FF While Attached To RIT Pak Air:
Rope Rescue Utilizing Lower Rack:
Firefighter Removal Through Thermal Imaging Camara View:
Concrete Block and Wall Breaching:
RIT Pak Training:
Search and Rescue:
FF Packaging With Webbing Blindfolded:
Forcible Entry Using Door Simulator:
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