By Larry Cohen on Tuesday, 05 July 2011
Category: News

FIREFIGHTERS HEAD TO THE SHORE FOR THE WEEKEND

WILDWOOD---Everything a firefighter needs was all in one spot .....fire trucks, and vendors packed the Wildwood Convention Center and its parking lot. "We have everything new that comes out as the vendors get it they bring it if they have it new its here at the show," said Dave Thompson. The New Jersey State Firemen's Annual Convention is one of the largest shows on the east coast, and it's put on by all 6 fire companies on the island... Thompson said, "This event has grown tremendously but fire fighting has changed we use to just grab a hose and run into a building not today I was trained at 28 hours today its a 134 hours its a totally different world." And one vendor, Fire Ground Technologies is proof of how things have definitely changed. Larry Cohen said, "If a firefighter were to get trap if they cant tolerate the heat or smoke they tie off or anchor at the window and slide down on the rope." The technology is called the petzl exo and it's used with a special harness. Cohen said, "Both components derived from a 2005 incident with the NY Fire Department where we lost two members of the dept as a result its an effort to come out with what we call a bail out system." Firefighters were able to see firsthand how it works. The goal is to get this technique recognized nationwide which is catching on here in New Jersey and in New York......NBC 40 learned its just another way for firefighters to stay safe.