Viewfinder: Firefighters Use Demolished Cars to Brush up Emergency Skills

About 20 firefighters in the Morton Grove Fire Department took part in a certification program known as Fire Service Vehicle and Machinery Operations this week.

On Thursday, the exercise was to rescue a 200 pound victim from underneath a flipped-over vehicle. According to Fire Chief Tom Friel, there is something known in the trade as the "golden hour," during which rescue workers have a window of time to save people involved in accidents.

"The methods have changed dramatically just in the past five years," said Friel, who also stressed the importance of training seminars such as this one. 

The seminar teaches firefighters about how to handle situations that involve cars, trucks and industrial machinery. The totaled vehicles were donated by Lin-Mar Motors on Lehigh Avenue. 

Scan through the photos and the short video clip for a taste of the action.