Photo Information Marines with Chemical Biological Incident Response Force rescue a victim from a severely damaged vehicle at Fire Department of New York Fire Academy, June 21, 2016. Marines and sailors with CBIRF trained alongside F.D.N.Y for a field training exercise at the F.D.N.Y training academy in Randall’s Island, N.Y. June 20, 2016. CBIRF is an active duty Marine Corps unit that, when directed, forward-deploys and/or responds with minimal warning to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive (CBRNE) threat or event in order to assist local, state, or federal agencies and the geographic combatant commanders in the conduct of CBRNE response or consequence management operations, providing capabilities for command and control; agent detection and identification; search, rescue, and decontamination; and emergency medical care for contaminated personnel. (Official USMC Photo by Lance Cpl. Maverick S. Mejia/RELEASED) Photo by Lance Cpl. Maverick Mejia Download Details Share CBIRF, FDNY train side by side during search and rescue exercise 1 Jul 2016 | Lance Cpl. Maverick Mejia Chemical Biological Incident Response Force PRINT SHARE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK FIRE ACADEMY -- FIRE DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK FIRE ACADEMY, New York City – Chemical Biological Incident Response Force and the Fire Department of New York conducted a three-day training exercise from June 20 to 23 at the FDNY Fire Academy here with a final simulation drill at Grand Central Station in New York City. The training was part of a longstanding relationship between CBIRF and FDNY established around 1998, when CBIRF sought to add search and rescue to its capabilities. The exercise provided an opportunity for the firefighters who protect one of the largest and busiest cities in the world to share their experience and tactics with CBIRF. “I love this,” said Vincent Pickford, lieutenant for Squad 288 in Queens, N.Y. “If we can help CBIRF to do the job they have to do, it’s an honor.” FDNY shares similarities with CBIRF; both are trained to respond to catastrophes, including hazardous incidents. The similarities do not end there. “The Fire Department is a lot like the Marine Corps,” said Capt. Robert Morris. “The guys are good, (there is) a lot of team work, a lot of camaraderie.” The firefighters love to come and work alongside Marines and sailors, said Morris. Many firefighters compete for the training opportunity, especially those who had previously served as Marines. Training was divided into three areas specific to search and rescue capabilities. The first covered various scenarios using ropes to climb to and descend from difficult areas in order to rescue victims. The second area covered removing victims from vehicles using hydraulic, battery-powered and hand tools, as well as the proper techniques to rip through mangled car parts in order to reach victims as quickly and safely as possible. The third area centered on breaching techniques. Participants learned how to use fire torches, saws, and hydraulic drills to break through barriers while guaranteeing the safety of rescuers and victims.