So-Cal Auto-X Academy

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120 students from all over the Western United States signed up for a three day Auto Extrication Academy held at the North Net Training Center in Anaheim, California. The instructor cadre was made up of veteran firefighters who used more than 100 donated vehicles to set up real life motor vehicle incident scenarios.

Instructor & Retired Battalion Chief with the City of Vacaville Fire Department, Steve Carpenter, stated that many scenarios were displayed, including one involving a trailer atop of two cars. Another scenario involved a vehicle on top of a sheered wooden telephone pole that had gone inside of another car.

Also demonstrated was a scenario including a hybrid vehicle. "It's in a culvert where you can't get to the sides and the people have to actually tunnel in and remove the high voltage battery to get in to the occupants," said Carpenter. Brad Ventura with the Maui County Fire Department claimed that a first responder must be able to adapt to whatever they may see on scene of an incident.

Yet another scenario involved removing the floor of a vehicle in order to access the victim. Carpenter explained, "It's a scenario where we have a 300 foot drop off from one side of the car, so they can't go to that side. So everything has to be done from the undercarriage side of the vehicle. We have another one involving a bus over on top of a vehicle."

Participant in this training exercise, Captain Tim Dunkley with American Fork Fire Rescue, expressed, "I haven't seen one of those before, so I was excited to experience a bus on a car type scenario on it's side, so the stabilization and the extrication of the car underneath was a good challenge for us. We lifted the bus with the strut system, which was quite fun."

Some of the struts used in the North Net training event were new to firefighters, including one called a twist lock, which was explained by retired FDNY Firefighter, Nick Giordano.  "It's a positive twist connection, so all [it does is] extends, lets go of the collar and locks in place. Also part of the system is an attached ratchet belt system, so it's all compact. It's all lift and carry. Set it in place, and you're good to go." Giordano added, "It's a new component to make firefighters ability to do vehicle stabilization a little bit easier."

Many of the vehicles used in this auto extrication class,  such as a Honda fuel cell vehicle worth $750,000, were donated by various manufacturer's. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is not currently affordable to the general public, according to Randy Babbitt, Engineer with the Huntington Beach Fire Department. "We were actually able to flip the car up on it's side and expose their hydrogen tanks and the fuel cell and everything that is unique about a hydrogen fuel cell car," added Babbitt.

Babbitt also claimed that something done differently at this training was having every single hydraulic tool manufacturer available for the students to use their products.

Tool manufacturer's who participated included:   

• Advanced Extrication Tech   
  
• Ecology Auto Parts   
  
• Pick Your Part   
  
• Pick A Part   
  
• ESS Eyewear   
  
• Junkyard Dog  
  
• Res-Q-Jack   
  
• Rescue 42
  
• Paratech  
  
• Holmatro   
  
• Amkus   
  
• Hurst   
  
• TNT   
  
• FS3

All participating students were able to use the provided tools during the many different scenarios, resulting in great familiarity with the products by the third day of training. "You have to keep yourself updated in the new vehicles and the new ways to get inside of them because it's constantly changing every three to four years," remarked Firefighter Brad Ventura.

Students were charged $425 for this three day class, however, the cost of this class is most likely to increase slightly next year. Also important, is making sure that some profits from these training events are given to charities.

Engineer Randy Babbit stated that donations have been made to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, Anaheim Firefighters Association and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This event also raised money to help a local ambulance operator with the Huntington Beach Fire Department battling cancer. "We did a raffle last night and raised $2,500 for him to help him cover his medical expenses," added Babbit.

Another auto academy course is planned to be held in Northern California next Spring, along with another in Anaheim, California in the Fall.



Author:Barbara Brooks - Video, Renee Marquart - Text