"Life safety education:" Milwaukee Fire Department takes part in terrorism training
Milwaukee Fire Department takes part in terrorism training
Milwaukee Fire Department takes part in terrorism training
MILWAUKEE -- In the wake of recent terror attacks across the globe, the Milwaukee Fire Department continues its efforts to remain abreast of the appropriate response strategies. Friday, July 22nd involved a few days of classroom instruction from a couple of specialists.
MFD terrorism training
"I've got 20 years on the HazMat team," said Milwaukee Fire Department Captain Russell Rivard.
Captain Rivard says he's seen a significant shift in terms of training.
"It's this much on industrial things, and this much on acts of terror, Ebola, things that we didn't talk about, a whole heck of a lot 20 years ago," said Rivard.
Friday, two members of the International Association of Firefighters did the talking during a terrorism training for members of the Milwaukee Fire Department's Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Team.
MFD terrorism training
"It's kind of like an 'Old Home Week,'" said Spencer Krueger, terrorism response trainer.
MFD terrorism training
Krueger is a retired member of the Milwaukee Fire Department currently conducting terrorism training for the association.
"This is another experience that these folks are going to have and some of those experiences because they were not available to me when I first came on this department; I would have definitely benefited from," said Krueger.
Topics can include response training for incidents involving hazardous materials, weapons of mass destruction and others.
MFD terrorism training
This particular three-day training comes about a week after the terrorist attack in Nice, Italy, making it particularly poignant.
"It really is life safety education to promote their life safety because they're not going to do the community any good at all if they're victims right alongside everybody else," said John Welsch, terrorism response trainer.
The HazMat team is all about training. In addition to their training with the Milwaukee Fire Department, they also participate in monthly OSHA-standard training, to make certain they're up on the latest practices and technology in terms of saving lives.
MFD terrorism training