Fame Fire Company

Two Squads prepare a plan for lifting the two slabs so "Little Mo" can make it through.

Squad prepares to sling a slab for lifting with a crane.

16 foot long 6"x6" timbers are being used as levers to gain mechanical advantage in lifting the slabs. Work must be well coordinated and cribbing must be precise to keep the operation moving along.

FEMA instructors setting up the "O" course in the morning.

FFs Kevin Beans and Aaron Diefenderfer await the next step.

Fame members set-up the Petrogen torch carried on Collapse 53 at one of two stations simulating a loaded I beam that need to be cut. Techniques applied permit the torch operator to weaken and then fail the I beam under the direction of a structural specialist.

FF Norsoph starts the loaded beam cut.

FF Norsoph controls the failure of the I beam under the guidance of the FEMA USAR structures specialist.

FF Jim Leon at the tensioned cable station. Members demonstrated proper techniques to weaken and control the store energy in a tensioned cable.

FF McCausland looks on.

FF Mark McCarthy performing confined space metal burning.

FF Dixon sparks up a conversation with FF Matthews in the confined space burning station.


By Captain Bill Cummings
April 20, 2015

This past weekend, 18 Fame members, along with other members from Valley Forge and Norco Fire Companies, took part in the third weekend of the FEMA Structural Collapse Technician class. Topics included heavy lifting and rigging, calculating weights and center of gravity of slabs to be moved, crane operations, advanced metal burning and cutting techniques, overhead cutting and burning with torches and confined space cutting and burning. The weekend also included the infamous "O" course, where students must move a 1200 lb block of solid concrete, "Little Mo", through an obstacle course using only simple levers, wood cribbing and pipe as rollers. It was a great weekend of training that really helped to improve our skill sets. Thanks to Randy Padfield and his staff of instructors from Harrisburg Area Community College and we look forward to our final weekend in May where we will finish this intense 80 hour program. Check out the Chester County Rescue Task Force Facebook page for more pictures.