Host Bob Duemmel talks with New Jersey Task Force 1 (NJTF-1) Rescue Leader Michael Daley and NJTF-1 Paramedic Sean Conboy about the July 16 parking garage collapse in Hackensack, NJ. This podcast was recorded during the live session of "The Buzz on Technical Rescue" at Firehouse Expo.
The two detail the response of local and statewide emergency response teams, including the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) and NJTF 1, to the collapse. The teams worked to ensure that no occupants were in the parked cars or inside the structure at the time of the collapse.
The collapse was initially dispatched as a water flow alarm and quickly turned into a multi-jurisdictional incident.
Bob, Mike and Sean review the items that all emergency responders need to remember in the wake of a large scale incident such as the collapse.
About the Author
Bob Duemmel
Bob Duemmel was the technical rescue editor for Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com. A deputy coordinator for Special Operations in Monroe County, NY he recently retired as a captain with the City of Rochester Fire Department. Bob's involvement in technical rescue is very diverse. He is the Plans Manager for New York Task Force-2 USAR Team, a member of the Western New York Incident Management Team and a member of the New York State Technical Rescue curriculum development team. He is a nationally certified instructor with a focus on technical rescue programs. He has delivered training to fire service, industrial, military and international rescue teams and has assisted with exercise evaluation for the United Kingdom and the European Union's USAR program. Bob has also participated in numerous USAR exercised as both a participant and evaluator. He hosted “The Buzz on Technical Rescue” podcast.