Wednesday April, 10 2024

Nature: Inservice Professional Development Training - Utility Emergency Response

Location: Lewes-Rehoboth Station #23 – John J. Williams Highway

On Wednesday evening, April 10^th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was invited to attend a professional development training opportunity hosted by the Lewes (82) & Rehoboth Beach (86) fire companies. 

The training opportunity was conducted by the Delaware Electric Cooperative and Chesapeake Utilities to highlight and address natural gas and propane gas distribution incidents that may occur and electricity distribution incidents.

These utility companies are committed to providing community emergency responders with the information, tools, and training that they need to respond in the unlikely event of a pipeline or electricity emergency.

The first responders were provided with the following information:

• Methods to identify the types of emergency where the utility service providers may be required to respond.

• Methods and resources to handle such emergencies.

• Demonstrations to mitigate such emergency.

Other training initiatives available to first responders which include:

• Chesapeake Utilities’ Emergency Responder Education Program provides emergency responders and 9-1-1 call center personnel unlimited access to free, online training materials designed to help them to respond safely and effectively to any pipeline emergency. Additional information may be obtained by viewing: 

  • https://www.chpkgas.com/safety/

  • https://www.chpkgas.com/safety/emergency-responders/

  • https://vimeo.com/531439907/d39fcc9dfd

• Safety Trailer is a mobile training option which we transrport directly to our first responders' facilities to train employees and volunteers.

The Indian River wishes to acknowledge the host fire companies as well as the utility service companies for making this training opportunity possible.