NEWS RELEASE

A former BMC West building (17005 S.W. Cornell in Beaverton), slated for demolition, is providing unique training opportunities for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. Each day during the month of September, firefighters are taking advantage of the large commercial property to hone their skills. One of the most important training exercises is Rapid Intervention Teams (RIT), in which teams of firefighters enter the building to locate a missing or trapped firefighter, determine his/her condition, and bring the firefighter to safety. Additional training focuses on truck operations (ventilating a building, forcible entry, raising ladders, placement of ladder trucks), technical rescue (stabilizing a collapsed building, boring through concrete walls, extricating simulated patients from under debris), and engine operations (placement of fire hose lines, flowing large amounts of water).

The BMC West training event represents one of the largest training efforts initiated by the Fire District. Karen Eubanks, Public Information Officer, states, "The BMC West building is providing our firefighters with incredible hands-on training opportunities." She added, "We’ve been able to put our crews in situations that, hopefully never occur, but if it they do, we’ll be ready to respond." TVF&R also made the training available to neighboring departments.

Interested media agencies should contact Karen Eubanks to coordinate optimum photo opportunities.