New Haven Independent

posted by: Mister Jones on October 7, 2011  12:36pm

This is an incredible story and a reminder that firefighters put themselves in harm’s way every day.

posted by: bill Saunders on October 7, 2011  1:15pm

This story is full of misinformation.

Firstly, there is absolutely no way you can hang on by your thumbs.

Secondly,  it does not take twenty four people to pull off a successful roped rescue on a hundred foot cliff. (unless it is union work)

posted by: Jake on October 7, 2011  2:10pm

Mr. Saunders ... The NHFD Squad and support companies do a lot of training for these operations but our equipment and resources are limited. We are not a “dedicated”  mountain rescue organization. Because of budgetary and operational concerns the NHFD Squad Companies are responsible for fires, EMS, hazardous material incidents, utility emergencies, rope rescue, elevator rescue, vehicle and machinery extrication, confined space rescue, water and ice rescue, and any other incident that is not deemed “normal”. When you factor in personnel for recon, rescue, rigging, EMS, incident command, safety, and the host of other positions we are obligated to fill under OSHA, NFPA, and other oversight organizations it actually takes more than 24 people to perform a successful high angle rescue. The UNION has nothing to do with it. The chief utilized the resources he had at his disposal to SAFELY perform the successful rescue of a civilian and a rescuer. 3 brave and dedicated firefighters were injured during this operation (2 are still in the hospital) and you have the audacity to imply that the resources utilized were somehow dictated by the union and unnecessary. Feel free to sit behind your keyboard and nice comfortable desk and try to Monday morning quarterback an operation that you know nothing about. I hope the day never comes when you or a loved one need our services, but rest assured we will show up with as many trained, professional firefighters as it takes to get the job done.

posted by: Bill Saunders on October 7, 2011  4:02pm

Jake,

I certainly understand that your resources are limited, and that you are not a dedicated mountain rescue organization.  That is my point.

posted by: SPQRTN on October 8, 2011  3:26pm

1) I don’t understand what is all the hatred toward Yale and Yalies… Yale happens to be the largest employer in New Haven… Without it, this little town of yours would look worse than Hartford and Bridgeport together…And by the way, two reckless kids who attend a particular school, don’t represent the entire University…
2) Rock climbing is a perilous sport. Free climbing is even more challenging and dangerous. East Rock would be a dream if someone worked to make it possible to have climbing routes..
3) The amount of injuries, and this is an educated guess, could have been decreased if we had a team of well trained mountain rescuers…Sorry, but guts and courage seldom replace well trained rescue staff..