Volunteers with North Whidbey Fire and Rescue conducted realistic extraction training Saturday in Oak Harbor.

Fifteen firefighters took the opportunity to hone their skills using salvage vehicles in various scenarios depicting precarious circumstances.

Station Battalion Chief Chris Swiger said 12 cars were donated from Christian’s Towing and A-1 Towing in Oak Harbor, along with support equipment from Diamond Rentals. Swiger said that they all offered tremendous support.

“This is huge training,” Swiger said. “Without this type of training you really don’t know what you are doing until you have a chance to do it.”

Volunteers were able to practice stabilizing overturned vehicles, as well as objects placed on top to simulate crushing. Mannequins were used to simulate victims.

Antoine Drieu, a three-year volunteer, commented on the value of the training.

“Working together like this in these realistic training scenarios makes us better as a team, Drieu said. “You never know what you’re going to get out on a call.

“You may respond to something that sounds like it could be nothing and then you are faced with a challenging situation. It’s great to have these tools to practice with.

“It makes us better as a unit.”

The fire district’s area of coverage encompasses about 55 square miles and seven fire stations from Deception Pass to Libbey Road, Swiger said.

Swiger said they receive about 2,200 calls a year.

“For a volunteer organization that is a lot,” he said.

Swiger also said that with the growing community, more volunteers will be needed in the future.

n For information about becoming a volunteer firefighter, log on to the North Whidbey Fire and Rescue website at www/NWFR.org/join