PHOTOS: Westhampton Beach Firefighters Participate in Heavy Rescue Drill

Westhampton Beach Fire Department members honed their emergency extrication skills in a heavy rescue drill held at the Sunset Avenue firehouse on Tuesday.

During the drill, some of the department’s probationary firefighters received training in using the “Jaws of Life” and hydraulic cutters to remove the doors and roof on a junker that had been donated to the department.

The 'Jaws of Life' are frequently used by firefighters to help remove people that become trapped in their cars after an accident.

Also during the drill, experienced firefighters practiced with more conventional tools such as circular saws, as well as a flathead ax and Halligan tool, which are known collectively as a set of irons.

By the end of the drill, the department said, firefighters successfully removed the windshield, the roof and all the doors were off the practice vehicle.

In addition to the extrication drill, several department members received driver training as well as a demonstration of a new griphoist tool, which is a manual wire hoist that can be used to stabilize large vehicles involved in accidents.

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