Fire cos. and hospital test emergency response

A ladder is extended during a drill at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel.

HOLMDEL - Holmdel Fire Company No. 1, Holmdel Fire and Rescue Company No. 2 and Hazlet Fire Company No. 1 were challenged by Bayshore CommunityHospital's Emergency Preparedness Committee to test if their equipment was capable of rooftop evacuation that could reach over four stories, according to a press release from the hospital.

On Jan. 19,members of the Holmdel Office of Emergency Management, Holmdel Township Committeeman Rocco Pascucci, an M.D., and more than 37 firefighters began a drill that started at the Bayshore CommunityHospital conference roomswith a presentation by Bill Brookes, corporate safety officer at Bayshore and Holmdel volunteer firefighter, the press release said.

After the classroom session was completed, tours of both the inside and outside of Bayshore hospitalwere given.BothHolmdel and Hazlet fire chiefs talked about where they would set up and position the 100-foot tower platform of Holmdel Fire Company and the 75-foot aerial platformofHazlet Fire Company

Firefighters practiced setting up the trucks, fully extending the ladders for accessibility to the different levels of the roof, placing the platformfromthe roof to the ground level, and other maneuvers.

Firefighters and line officers concluded the drill with information on the amount of safety equipment and defined locations for setting up equipment, dependent on the type of emergency.

The drillwas successful, the press release stated, and determined that the Holmdel Fire Company tower platform is ready and able to reach above the fourth-floor roof.