Westminster Firefighters Train to Save Each Other's Lives

When a firefighter collapses inside a burning building, their teammates have just minutes to save their life.

Westminster Fire Department crews practiced exactly that scenario during their annual "firefighter down" training exercise this month. The high-intensity drill prepares teams for the worst moment any firefighter can face: rescuing one of their own.

"It's what we call high risk, low frequency," said Westminster firefighter paramedic Jeremiah Overcash. "We're training for the worst case scenario when one of our firefighters goes down fighting a fire."

The exercise puts every second to the test. Teams race to pull their fallen colleague from danger, strip away heavy protective gear, and administer life-saving treatment. Their goal? Complete the entire rescue in just three minutes.

Speed matters because firefighters who collapse in smoke-filled buildings often inhale cyanide, a deadly gas released when plastics and synthetic materials burn. Westminster crews train specifically to identify and treat this poisoning using Cyanokits, antidotes stored in bright orange containers on every emergency vehicle.

"Getting rid of that cyanide requires what's called a Cyano kit," Overcash explained. The medication works by helping the body flush out the poison before it causes permanent damage or death.

Every firefighter has a specific role during the rescue. One handles the airway. Another starts an IV. Others remove the helmet, mask, air pack, gloves, and protective hood. Only after removing all the gear can the team begin CPR and inject the antidote.

Why This Inspires

The same emergency response skills that protect firefighters also save civilians. When Westminster crews rescue people from burning buildings, they use identical techniques and medications to treat smoke inhalation and suspected cyanide poisoning.

"This particular medication is also given to our civilians," Overcash said. "Should we encounter a rescue and we suspect they've inhaled cyanide, we will absolutely give it to them."

For the firefighters going through the training, the drills build something beyond medical skills. They create unshakeable trust within the team.

"This training makes you more secure, for sure," said Westminster firefighter paramedic Don Maurais. "You train on this on a regular basis, and then when you go into a fire, you know that someone's there to help you out when something happens."

Westminster Fire officials say the annual exercises ensure crews stay sharp and prepared long before a real emergency strikes.