CDA Fire Department to conduct crane rescue training Thursday

The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Technical Rescue Team will be conducting several training evolutions simulating an emergency rescue from a crane on Thursday.

With several cranes currently in operation in downtown Coeur d'Alene, Dick Anderson Construction, builder of the AC Marriott at Sixth and Sherman, contacted the fire department about doing a joint training on how the department might rescue a crane operator who was having an emergency situation like a heart attack or traumatic injury from the crane operators’ seat at the top of the crane.

CDA fire is expected to be on scene from about 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the public should expect to see fire department vehicles and personnel in the area and on the crane.

"We would ask the public to please stay aware of your surroundings if you are near the site," a press release said. "While we do not expect anything to fall from heights we will be working overhead with ropes and rescue baskets and simulated patients. We do not expect to create any additional blocked lanes or road closures, but if it is needed for personnel safety we may have to."