In 1999 with a roster of 7 members the YHFD entered the F.A.S.Team business becoming the 3rd F.A.S.Team in Westchester County. FAST is short for Firefighter Assist and Search Team is a group of firefighters that have special training in the rescue of trapped, injured, missing, or disoriented firefighters from any structural fire or other hazardous condition . After countless hours of specialized training the team went into operation utilizing Rescue 16 (1989 International/Saulsbury Heavy Rescue) and a Ford pick up that was being used as Chief vehicle at the time to hold the equipment and respond to calls. Present day, YHFD F.A.S.T continues to operate with Rescue 16 (2009 Spartan/ Rescue 1). The team has continued to grow with a roster of approximately 30 hand picked firefighters. Members of the team are typically the most veteran and experienced firefighters in the department that volunteer to take the numerous state classes and attend monthly in-house FAST training which is required to even be considered for a spot on the team. This group of aggressive, motivated, dedicated, and well trained firefighters stands ever ready for any task assigned to them. The YHFD F.A.S.Team most commonly responds mutual aid throughout the Northern Westcehster Area and Eastern Putnam County. Including, Lake Mohegan, Somers, Millwood, Croton, Bedford Hills, The City of Peekskill, Mt. Kisco, Ossining, South Salem, Katonah, Mahopac (Putnam County), Mahopac Falls (Putnam County), and Carmel (Putnam County).
Some Of The Teams Duties After Arriving On Scene.
The team will not participate in firefighting operations unless their duties are passed to another team already on the scene. The duties of the team include but are not limited to- , monitor fireground operations which includes fire conditions and locations of members that are operating, create points of egress and escape for firefighter rescue using multiple methods, develop a rescue plan for a missing, lost, trapped firefighter, using rope and confined space rescue techniques, move a firefighter in distress up or down a stairwell, up or down through a hole in the floor or roof, moving a downed firefighter out of a window, and lower a firefighter down a ladder. All of these operations may be conducted in dangerous and possibly high risk situations.
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