Bellingham firefighters spent the past several weeks training at Western Washington University, gaining experience in an environment that presents unique challenges for emergency crews. (Photo: Bellingham Fire Department)
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Bellingham firefighters spent several weeks this summer training inside the tight, mechanical corridors of Western Washington University, working through a confined-space environment that department officials say pushed crews to sharpen skills they don’t often get to practice on standard training grounds.
The exercises took crews into narrow, low-clearance concrete passageways lined with pipes and ductwork, the kind of tight utility spaces that can slow down or complicate a rescue in a real emergency. In photos shared by the department, several firefighters can be seen working together to strap a crew member into a rescue basket and carry him through the cramped corridor, while others crouch nearby to guide the extraction.
“Training in different settings gives our crews valuable experience and helps prepare them for the wide variety of emergencies they may encounter.”
— Bellingham Fire Department
Department officials say the goal of rotating training locations is to keep crews ready for the wide range of settings an emergency call can actually put them in, from residential structures to industrial and institutional buildings with layouts that don’t match a typical training tower.
Bellingham Fire Department thanked Western Washington University for opening up the space and supporting the training over the past several weeks.
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