Columbia College Fire Academy students practice on vehicles at Vic’s Towing in Sonora – Union Democrat
Twenty-5 college students from the Columbia School Hearth Know-how Program and one firefighter from the Sonora Hearth Division gathered round eight wrecked automobiles at Vic’s Towing in Sonora on Wednesday for the second day Of teaching to earn certification in Using hydraulic mannequins, car stabilization and passenger extrication.
They have been separated into three teams and supervised by three teachers from the Merced Metropolis Hearth Division, Definitely one of whom May even be an teacher at Columbia School, They typically found The biggest Method to stabilize automobiles and extricate passengers using automobiles collected by the towing agency.
The hydraulic mannequins included the Hurst mannequin “Jaws of Life,” the Rescue 42 Stabilization system, a round noticed (concrete noticed) , a extreme-enhance jack, a reciprocating noticed (noticedzall) and others.
Nathan Frankhauser, Columbia School teacher and firefighter from Merced Metropolis Hearth said That they had “An excellent system cache” from Tuolumne County Hearth Division and Merced Metropolis School Hearth Academy, however that They might use extra automobiles.
“The extra automobiles We now have, the extra mannequins college students get to make the most of,” he said, which “constructs a basis That every firefighter can construct upon with agency particular methods.”
Frankhauser said They will take any car, damaged or not. Donations Might be made to The school academy by calling forward to make an appointment. Donors Want to current the pink slip They typically acquire a Thanks letter for tax features.
The academy typically makes use of eight to 10 automobiles per semester.
Students acquire state certification with Finally Inside the classroom and two days Inside The sector for An complete of 24 hours Of teaching. An factor of the teaching consists of instilling Inside The college students an understanding of what expert tow truck drivers can do for them.
Frankenhauser said they Try and pair “The mannequin new period of firefighters with In all probability the most expert tow truck drivers.”
Randy Selesia, 73, proprietor of Vic’s Towing, said he’s been Inside the household enterprise for 53 yrs and has currentd automobiles for teaching features for 30 yrs.
“This teaching Is notably important in rural communities the place there are restricted assets And a lot of of volunteer firefighters,” he said. “Our accidents are pretty critical. It is not Simply like the city. We get automobiles over embankments, logging vans.
“We (tow truck drivers) can stabilize automobiles and make it protected for firefighters to work round them. If We will maintain it, We’re a protectedty belt for the firefighters. Tow truck drivers clear the roadway and do no matter We will do To assist them.”
Selesia said his agency currents automobiles all yr prolonged for Columbia School Hearth Know-how Program, Sonora Metropolis Hearth Division and Cal Hearth.
When a car involved in a collision is left at a tow agency, There is a lien sale or The agency will get the title from the house proprietors and shops the car for teaching durations.
The automobiles are additionally used Inside the Every Quarter-hour Drunk Driving packages at native extreme schools.
Gage Pankey, 18, of Twain Harte, used a round noticed on Wednesday to make a aid reduce to the A-pillar on a automotive’s windshield To discover methods To permit the dash to be rolled again and enhanceed off the lap of a driver.
Pankey playfully yelled “Yee Haw!” after making the reduce.