Help, help were the sounds that fire fighters from the Freehold Twp. Independent Fire Co., Station 16-1, heard as they were progressing down the smoke filled hallway as they were about to make entry into the smoke filled room. The screams were real, but they were made by the departments’ officers as members were advancing into the newly constructed search room.

Mannequins, adult and child, were placed in the room and teams split up to locate and remove the victims. As each team advanced to the next evolution, the fire fighters got better and better.

The department, in addition to the normal monthly drill, has added the search drill as a monthly extra drill. Most people when they practice something do it with the attitude of doing it until they get it right. Fire Fighters practice with the attitude of practice so you can’t get it wrong.