Acting FAST, Cairo discusses rescue team
The Daily Mail
Jan. 28, 2009

The Cairo Fire Department Board of Commissioners discussed creating a Firefighter Assist and Search Team at their first meeting of the year Tuesday night.

The team would go to fires outside of the Cairo district to be on call in case a responding firefighter became injured or trapped while on duty.

A minimum of four firefighters would respond to a team call. Eight firefighters in the district have been certified as team responders.

Commissioner Bill Smith said he hoped that a team could be operational by early spring.

“Training-wise, we are good to go. Equipment-wise, we are 90 percent there,” he said.

The board questioned how creation of the team would affect the district’s insurance policy.

They discussed with Fire District Chief Gerry Buckley what gear could be set aside for the team and what would be available for general calls.

The team would not need its own truck, but a truck and radios would have to be ready when needed, Buckley said.

Buckley said he could speak to members of the team in New Baltimore about how they divide and manage gear.

He said that company members have discussed starting a team in the past, but had to hold off on doing so until they could receive the necessary training.

Buckley said that in the future, all districts will need to have a team.

“It’s coming down the line and we want to get a jump on it,” he said.