MARION (WSIL) -- The Marion Fire Department hosted a technical rescue training at their facility Wednesday.
"Today they're training on confined space, as you can see behind me," said Marion Fire Chief Tim Barnett.
Wednesday's exercise had rescue teams saving a worker from a chlorine leak in a tight work space.
"We got called because they're unresponsive, we couldn't get to them, so we had to monitor their conditions, go on air, go on rope, find them first and then hook them up with ropes, drag them back and lift them out," explained Marion Fire Lieutenant Chad Schmid.
Chief Barnett emphasized the need for sharpening these lifesaving skills.
"They're so technical that if you don't practice, you know you're gonna lose it, just like anything else."
Chief Barnett also expressed gratitude for city leadership that would invest in these trainings, that typically occur, in some fashion, every two months.
"We have a city council and a mayor that are all about training, and they provided this opportunity for us to, you know, it cost money to train, there's no doubt about it, but the end result is they feel that it's worth while, and of course we all do too, and without their support it just doesn't happen."
Lieutenant Schmid explains that it doesn't require a harrowing rescue to reap the benefits of these exercises.
"We've had our public works, water and sewer had to go in a manhole, and we put up a tripod and had to lower them down before. Not necessarily for a rescue, but just to help them out.
Whether it's saving a life, or providing a service to the city, Lieutenant Schmid is confident in the abilities of southern Illinois' technical rescue teams.
"When it can't be done they call us, and we try to get it done."
Chief Barnett says some of their larger statewide training exercises had been canceled due to COVID-19, and this was the first of their local events since the pandemic started.
While the nature of the drill prevented the use of protective masks, Barnett says precautions are in place to protect those who were on site, including temperature checks.
