Web Posted:  10/14/2009 1:49:54 PM

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Last week, Governor Jim Doyle signed a bill (AB 319) into law that will enable fire departments with specially trained personnel to respond to structural collapse anywhere in the state, as needed.

The new law provides reimbursement of structural collapse team response costs from a responsible party; state employee status for worker’s compensation benefits for team members; and a civil liability exemption for the team, its members and sponsoring fire departments responding to structural collapse emergencies outside the home jurisdiction.

Structural collapses can happen anywhere in Wisconsin. Buildings can become unstable for a variety of reasons including fire, flood, or tornado damage, construction or gas explosions. Some structures, like silos, present unique challenges in the event someone becomes trapped inside.

In 2003, the Office of Justice Assistance began acting on the Governor’s directive to develop regional response capacity. 

Responding to structural collapses requires advanced training and expensive specialized equipment. Not every community can afford their own response team. The ability to send specially trained personnel in to assist with unusual circumstances improves the response to the crisis and safety for fire department personnel.

Over the past six years, the Office of Justice Assistance has invested $12 Million in Federal Homeland Security monies to train 450 rescue workers in rescue techniques and provide teams with the specialized equipment needed to respond. In the near future, Wisconsin will  have highly trained teams that can reach anywhere in the state.

An additional $4 M dollars of Homeland Security money has been invested to create the Regional Emergency All-Climate Training center (REACT), which provide first responders with advanced training and realistic experience in conducting specialized rescues involving collapsed structures, confined space, ropes and trenches.

From the beginning, the intent of the Homeland Security Grant Program has been to build statewide capabilities. A significant investment of federal funds along with the hard work and dedication of many local fire department personnel has increased Wisconsin’s search and rescue capacity. This legislation creates a structural collapse response structure that will sustain the program as a state asset into the future.