10/18/2009 – The Church Hill Volunteer Fire Company is preparing to place in service a 1989 Mack Baker Aerialscope 95′ Tower. The tower was recently rehabbed by Micro Fire Apparatus in Allentown, PA.
The class was taught by Instructor Mike Wilbur. He owns and operates his own business, Emergency Vehicle Response where he teaches safe apparatus response practices and Aerial & Tower Ladder operations. The class was 16 hours of instruction and practical applications focused mainly on the use of their tower but also related to ladder failures and other safety issues. Members practiced hand/eye coordination and depth perception by directing a bucket of foam strapped to the bottom of the basket into a 32 gallon trash can without touching the sides. The three cans were placed on the 1st floor roof, the 2nd floor roof and in the parking lot.
Mike is also a Lieutenant with FDNY riding on Ladder 27 in the Bronx. Mike’s passion is fire apparatus and he loves passing his knowledge and experience on to everyone he comes in contact with. Mike is an excellent instructor as everyone at the class this weekend learned valuable information to correctly and safely operate their tower.
Training on the tower will continue until the members are comfortable and confident with its operation.
The Officer’s and Member’s would like to thank Mike for traveling to Church Hill to instruct his first ever class taught in Maryland. They were proud to have him join them for the weekend.
Photographs by : Bruce Secrist
