Local firefighters practice vehicle extraction as high-speed accidents become more common | Top Stories [Video]

MERLIN, Ore. – Rural Metro Fire and Illinois Valley Fire firefighters are holding a three-day training. Today’s training: vehicle extrication.

“We have a very large area that covers I-5, 199, Rogue River Highway. So we see a lot of high speed accidents,” said Captain Cody Breeze from Rural Metro Fire. “This training is really important for new recruits.”

Learning to use the tools required to extract someone from a vehicle, keep a person calm, and protect them from shattering glass are all vital parts of this training.

“I’ve been doing this since January,” said Fredrick Reuter, a Rural Metro Fire Recruit. “I’ve never really used these tools on a real car up until today.”

Being new to firefighting, Reuter said that learning his place in a vehicle extrication is also very important.

“When you’re on the scene, you want the most experienced guy using the tools,” said Reuter. “They gave …