Gaston Rural Fire District

We don't have much traffic congestion in the Gaston area, so traffic moves pretty fast.

That's generally a good thing, except it means that when accidents happen around here, it's usually at high speed. For that reason, knowing how to extract people from crumpled cars is critical for the district's firefighters.

So to practice lifesaving techniques, firefighters gathered at the station on June 23, 2008, to cut apart two cars. There's a lot to practice. For example, just cutting away the windows so that people don't get hurt is an acquired skill.

But there are even more complicated issues, especially as cars become more technically advanced. Hybrids, for example, are good for saving gas, but they put firefighters at extra risk with their high-voltage components. Then there are electric cars, liquid natural gas cars ...

Power-assisted back doors on SUVs can be risky if the pistons explode. Even one of the best safety enhancements ever - airbags - can deploy violently, seriously injuring rescuers and trapped victims.

So when rescuers pull people from cars, they use axes, high-powered saws and heavy hydraulic equipment. But they use them with delicate skill. Skill they hone with these frequent drills.

While most of the Gaston district volunteers haven't had to rescue people from exotic cars, they know the day is coming soon when they will.

Fortunately, several of our volunteers also happen to be full-time professional firefighters at some of the biggest and best-trained fire departments in the Northwest.

They deal with problems that are rare here, but that could happen. Two of those volunteers led the June 23 drill. Steve Klaus, who spends his work days at the Hillsboro Fire Department, and Justin Mesenbrink, who works for Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, were there to lead the other volunteers through the drill.

Finally, the drill illustrates another way people can contribute to help the community in ways you might not think of: One of the cars in the drill was donated by a generous resident of the district.