News

Team competes in 2009 Harvey Grant Extrication Challenge - DSFS, Dover DE
Saturday, September 12, 2009

On Sept. 12th a team of 8 members from the CHC competed in the First Annual Harvey Grant Vehicle Extrication Challenge at the DSFS grounds in Dover. The team consisted of team captain, 2nd Asst. Chief Tate Coulbourne, team EMT Jason Hansen, Lt. Brian Jarrell, Engineer Robert Daniels, Dwayne Newnam, John Morgan, Tyler Torres, and Eric Neeld. The team competed in two different scenarios, limited and unlimited. The limited scenario means being able to extricate the pt using only non-hydraulic tools. The teams could use saw-zalls, come-alongs, genesis tools, air chisels, or any other type of non-hydraulic power tools to remove the pt safely. The unlimited scenario means being to remove the pt using any hand, power, or hydraulic tools available. Our team was the very first team to perform this day in the limited pit. The team came within 1 minute of removing the pt from the vehicle, but had its avenue to the pt and a means of extrication before the 20 minute time limit expired. This scenario consisted of a 2 car MVC with a pt trapped in the vehicle on its side wedged down by the window, with the other car resting up against the roof and windshield area. In the unlimited scenario the team by far had the hardest of all the scenarios in the day. They had a pt trapped in the drivers side of the minivan, with a telephone/power pole on top, a jersey barrier on the drivers side, and another car on top of the passenger side of the van. The team had the pt 3/4 of the way removed from the vehicle when the 20 minute time limit expired, they needed just seconds more to finish the scenario. The CHC received a third place award for the unlimited pit challenge. The CHC would like to thank the DSFS for putting on this challenge which was a great learning experience for all, would like to thank the judges for all their help with the challenge, and all the volunteers who assisted in making this possible. They would also like to thank Past Chief Donnie Ebright Jr. for being their coach and working with them at practices, and Francis Harnett for obtaining the cars, and setting them up for training at the station. The CHC would also like to congratulate all the teams who participated and placed in the competition. A job well done was done by all the teams, and we look forward to competing again next year.