As part of the West Grove Fire Company's culture of continuous learning and training, an in-house training took place Wednesday evening covering the concept of Vent - Enter - Search.

Vent-Enter-Search (VES) is a rapid search and rescue tactic used by firefighters to quickly find victims trapped in a burning building, typically a bedroom. Firefighters "vent" a window to create an entry point, then "enter" the room and "search" for trapped individuals. This method is often faster for reaching victims in rooms where the main entrance is blocked by fire or smoke, and it is frequently used with the additional step of "isolating" the room by closing the door to create a safer environment for the search.

The training at the New London Station took advantage of the training trailer that allows for realistic situations. First responders practiced the steps of VES and ran through a variety of scenarios under the watchful eyes of line officers. Ladder placement, rapid donning of breathing apparatus, proper window venting and entering, as well as floor sounding and use of hand tools were skills that were reviewed and put into practice.