BHFD trains Virginia Army Engineers

Lynn Volkens

05/01/2008 - The Army’s 911^th Engineer Company, attached to the 12^th Aviation Battalion, is located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. That’s about 15 miles south of The Pentagon. In fact, it was the Engineer Company that responded to that attack on September 11, 2001. They are the only combat engineering company in the U.S. Army that specializes in Urban Search and Rescue. Working in confined spaces, collapsed structures, tunnels and vertical shafts, these are the rescue specialists who cover the National Capitol Region. And they train in Black Hawk.   

  Each year, about 15 of the 911^th Engineer’s men journey to Colorado for specialized training, coordinated by Steve Dimytriue at Colorado School of Mines. They begin with two weeks learning safety and rescue procedures in the school’s Edgar Mine near Idaho Springs. Then they head to Black Hawk Fire Department where they don bunker gear and spend a day atop Miners Mesa at the City’s “Burn Building.” Black Hawk firefighters put the 911^th Engineers through various structure fire and rescue exercises, teaching them what it’s like to work under real fire conditions and how to extract an endangered civilian or firefighter in difficult situations via the roof or through a small opening. They learn the “Denver Drill,” (developed by Denver Fire Department) including a rescue maneuver using a pulley and rope system attached to the extension ladder. It’s useful when a firefighter (who might weigh up to 300 pounds with all his gear) needs rescue from an upper story, Lt. Schaller explained.

  Fire Chief Bob Norris, Captain Sam Sitzman and Lieutenant Mark Schaller of Black Hawk’s Fire Department, were each recognized with Certificates of Appreciation at the city’s Council meeting on April 23^rd.  The certificates read: “Thanks for all the support you give the Soldiers of the 911^th Engineer Company, 12^th Aviation Battalion. The dedication and interest in training these Engineer Soldiers is what keeps us motivated to maintain this great relationship for years to come. Again, thanks for the knowledge and willingness to keep us trained to be able to support the National Capitol Region.” The awards were hand delivered by Command Sergeant Major Lawrence V. Mione. Additionally, Chief Norris was “coined” (awarded a medallion) by the Sergeant Major in appreciation of the exceptional training the Engineers had received from BHFD.