Pemel (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The high-altitude rescue team from Flemish Brabant West held its first major training on the Dender River in Pamel, Belgium. Led by Wouter Jeanfils, the 25-member (aiming for 40) team specialises in rope rescues for hard-to-reach emergencies.
The high-altitude rescue team from Flemish Brabant West had their first big training exercise on the Dender River in Pamel, Belgium. As Wouter Jeanfils of the fire department explains, this group of rescuers plays a vital role in that they are able to rescue individuals caught in buildings or areas that are too difficult for them to reach.
They also employ ropes, harnesses, and climbing gear specifically designed to extract people out of risky spots. He said that these rescue operations are very technical and need a lot of skill, teamwork, and knowledge about special rescue methods.
How is Pamel’s high-altitude rescue team preparing for emergencies?
The rescue team practices every month to keep their skills sharp. They recently had a big training exercise on the Dender River, Pamel, Belgium, which was like a real emergency. They had to use ropes and pulleys to move people up and down in a difficult situation.
Officials mentioned that this training helps them get better at using their equipment and working together. It also helps them stay calm under pressure. This was the first big exercise for the team. With all this practice, the rescue team is always ready to help people in dangerous situations.
The high-altitude rescue team in Flemish Brabant West has 5 people on each mission. They have different jobs to make sure everything goes smoothly and safely. The leader wears a white helmet, and the other 4 are firefighters trained in special rescue skills.
25 firefighters from different fire stations can be part of this team. However, the fire department wants to have 40 firefighters on the team so they can help more people. They are training more firefighters so they can use ropes and special rescue methods when needed.
The high-altitude rescue team in Flemish Brabant West recently practiced a flood disaster scenario on the Dender River. They were inspired by the devastating flood in Verviers in 2021. Wouter Jeanfils said that big floods could happen in their area too, so this kind of training is really important.
He mentioned that in the drill, they were required to rescue individuals stranded on a roof with floodwater all around. They could not use a boat because the water was too swift, so they employed ropes and specialized equipment to rescue the people.
