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News

At all USA sites, we know that “nuclear is different” and it is reflected in just about every aspect of our jobs. We also know that because we are different, we often train and prepare for things that others don’t in order to protect our plant, our people and the public.

The Fire Brigade at Cook is no different. Most members are trained to respond to unique nuclear circumstances in addition to the needs of our community. And lately, that training has been broadening and strengthening in partnership with our local fire and rescue departments.

Over the past couple of years, nine counties in Southwest Michigan —Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren — have been working to create a Technical Rescue Team for this area of Michigan. In early 2013, four members of the Cook Plant’s Fire Brigade were selected to that elite team: Ben Hansen, representing the Niles City Fire Department; Doug deBest, representing the Baroda Fire Department; Joel Buist, representing the Bridgman Fire Department; and Paul Rainwater, representing the Niles Township Fire Department.

In January of 2014, the new Technical Rescue Team expanded their scope of skills by training in the following areas: Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Structural Collapse Rescue, and Trench Rescue. The team is on schedule to be available to start responding to these types of Technical Emergencies in May of this Year.

This specialized team was created because no local Fire Department in this region of Michigan has this level of training or equipment to handle a major Technical Type Emergency. Until now.

The Cook Plant is supporting this regional team as a valuable resource for a couple of key reasons. First, the knowledge that our four trained specialists can be brought back to Cook to train the entire Fire Brigade. And second, if there is an emergency that the Cook Fire Brigade is not able to handle on its own, we have members of the Lake Township Fire Department who are also specially trained for specific response needs.

Thank you to our Fire Brigade and the dedicated team members who are working hard to maintain a variety of skills to keep us ahead of the curve when it comes to emergency preparedness.

Tackling the technical side of emergencies—Cook’s representatives on Michigan’s new 5th District Technical Rescue Team are (from left to right): Ben Hansen, Joel Buist, Paul Rainwater, and Doug deBest.