Video: Elite Rescue Group Trains In Tupelo

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – A group of top-notch professionals are getting their hands dirty for a 2-day training course.

Around 20 members of the Homeland Security Task Force Group One are working on sharpening their skills, from a ropes course, to the recovery of a victim.

It’s a parachuting accident.  One victim is stuck in a tall tree, the other is in the bottom of a ravine. A local farmer tries to help to two and he too falls into the
ravine.

Or at least that is the practice scenario for this group of Task Force Group One members.

“ It’s kind of the elite group, it’s the guys who really know what they’re doing,” said Chris Olson, Trainer with Mississippi Homeland Security.

This group is made up of firemen from Tupelo, Oxford, Hernando and Horn Lake.

They are recommended by their fire chief’s, mayor or other city leaders to joins the Mississippi Homeland Security group.

“ These guys are trained in special type rescue, technical rescue, special events that don’t always happen but when they happen, they’re big, large
scale events and they need special expertise,” said Olson.

Tuesday and Wednesday the group will sharpen their already acquired skills in a refresher-training course.
“ The floods, the tornadoes, things like that, there’s so many different situations, you have to have other technical skills. such as rope or confined
space or trench, things like that, that not every fireman knows these skills,” said Jason Desmond, with the Hernando Fire Department.

This training allows them to get hands on experience, from ropes course training to a practice trench rescue.

Participants say the training is necessary because if they don’t use their skill, then they risk losing it.

“ They’re not something we do everyday by any means, so we have to get together and train with other departments part of the Task Force so we’re
familiar with their equipment, their familiar with our equipment, it just keeps things fresh on our minds,” said Battalion Chief Scott Morgan, with the Tupelo Fire Department.

There are two other Task Force rescue groups throughout the state. All of the groups will come together for a larger training at Camp Shelby
later this year.