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The House has approved a proposal to eliminate $700 million in already-approved funding for public media. If enacted, it would strip essential services and could force rural stations off the air. The Senate will take up the bill next.

"I'd Be Lying If I Said There Wasn't A Few Nerves..."

An 11-story building sounds fairly tall, right? It feels even taller when you're on top of one looking down.

Missoula firefighters spent a few hours using the University of Montana's 11-story Aber Hall dormitory this week for their monthly training exercise.
MFD Captain Chad Kidd says the crew used the estimated 110-foot dorm to practice  "High Angle Rescue Techniques":

"The ropes is a foundation for the rest of our training scenarios Whether it's a confined space, trench, etc - rope is an integral part of that. Today's skills are basically rigging, coming down, doing a pick off, getting somebody to the ground; maybe not in that order, but all those elements are there and that relays into our disciplines as far as our rescue training."

Firefighter Nate Auge (pronounced oh-ZHAY) was the first to be lowered off the roof for the descent to the sidewalk. Once there, he was to pick-up another firefighter, take her halfway up the building, then bring her back down to the sidewalk. Auge had never stepped off such a tall building.

"Luckily we haven't had to do this on a scenario and I haven't had to do it for a training scenario either. This is a first time for me. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a few nerves going off the top, but it's the best way to get comfortable with it."

  

Edward O’Brien first landed at Montana Public Radio three decades ago as a news intern while attending the UM School of Journalism. He covers a wide range of stories from around the state.
edward.obrien@umt.edu.  
(406) 243-4065
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