Beneath the crushing weight of concrete and steel, the Oklahoma City Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue team carried out a grueling drill this month, simulating the aftermath of a building collapse. In a recent Facebook post, the department described how crews worked to free a “victim” trapped inside a vehicle, buried beneath carefully arranged rubble.
Climbing a towering pile of debris, the department’s skilled search dogs led the effort, sniffing out signs of life within the staged wreckage. Once they pinpointed the victim, crews used a concrete core drill to break through barriers and insert a search camera, confirming life in the darkness of the collapse. “Shoring was required to stabilize the slabs before accessing the vehicle,” the post explained, highlighting the dangers involved.
With traditional rescue routes destroyed, responders cut their way in through the trunk—an unconventional but necessary entry point. “With the only entry point through the trunk, rescuers breached the concrete in front of the car, tunneled through the trunk, and made their way into the cab to safely extricate the victim,” the department wrote.
This realistic training highlights the Oklahoma City Fire Department’s commitment to staying prepared for real emergencies. “Hands-on, realistic scenarios like this sharpen our skills for the moments when lives truly depend on it,” the post emphasized.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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