SUCHES – Union County Fire Station No. 5 had a great turnout for its annual Open House on Aug. 9, inviting the community to come in, meet the people who help keep them safe, and learn how firefighters in the Valley Above the Clouds accomplish that mighty goal.
It’s easy to forget sometimes that firefighters handle more than just calls to active blazes. Another big responsibility of the station’s employees and volunteers is rescue work.
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Union County boasts the most mileage of the Appalachian Trail out of any county in Georgia, so it’s common to receive calls for lost, injured or ill hikers. And fortunately, Station 5 recently acquired some new equipment to better care for the unwell and recover the missing.
This included an automated external defibrillator, a spreader, a cutter, and battery-powered extrication tools, all of which were replaced in the last six months. The last item is a veritable Swiss Army knife of a device, capable of lifting debris, cutting into twisted metal or even utilizing a small flashlight for illumination.
“Say, for instance, you had a car off a bank or a plane crash in the woods – you can take these (battery-powered tools); you don’t have to worry about carrying the power plant,” explained Derrick Pruitt, teaching what each item did.
At the next table over, Chris Disser talked a bit about the Hug-a-Tree and Survive Program. Originally started in San Diego, California, after the tragic loss of a 9-year-old in the surrounding mountains, the initiative aims to educate children especially on what they should do if they find themselves lost in the wilderness.
The name of the program comes from the No. 1 tip, which involves hugging a tree. Not only does holding onto a stationary object – and even talking to it – ground the person and calm them, but it also keeps them stationary to avoid fall risks and make it easier for rescuers to find them.
Speaking of rescues, Disser shared an idea for a new Station 5 team member. Retrieval can be a long process, and is often physically difficult for the missing and emotionally taxing for the family. With his steady, friendly nature, Disser hopes to one day bring along her dog, Mack, as a calming companion.
“He was just a puppy the last time we were doing our search and rescue course, and so he went to every class,” Disser said, joking that Mack was qualified for search and rescue. Still, in all seriousness, she thinks bringing him along might have some merit.
“He’d be kind of a calming influence or a distraction,” Disser said. “A lot of times, when we’re taking someone out of the woods, it’s a long, slow process … so that is my goal, is to have him there to provide a little distraction to stop and pet for a while.”
Nancy Sollinger, originally from Pittsburgh, first moved to Suches three years ago. She attended the open house last year as well and is happy to come out and support the neighbors who help keep her safe.
“It rained out last year,” Sollinger joked but said the weather was “just right” that evening.
Particularly, it was nice and clear to allow the firefighters to do some educational demonstrations. The first involved pulling someone up the bank beside the parking lot with a pulley system, showing how car crash victims may be brought up sheer cliffs.
Another demonstration encouraged guest interaction when firefighters displayed the proper use of fire extinguishers. Using flammable grease, a controlled burn confined to a box served as the “target,” while members of the crowd came up and aimed the hose at the deceptively small blaze.
Although heavy to some – especially the children who tried their hand at wielding the device – there was a general sense of accomplishment among those who used the extinguisher. One woman expressed mild surprise that it was as simple as pulling a pin, aiming and squeezing the trigger with a light touch.
“I think it’s wonderful. All these guys, they’re volunteers, and they do a fantastic job,” said Rodolfo Tenorio, another Suches resident who plans to join Sollinger in making a point of visiting Station 5’s annual open house opportunities. “I think it’s pretty unique; it’s unique to Suches. It’s a great place to be.”
