BIDDEFORD — Firefighters from both Saco and Biddeford climbed up the smokestack at Maine Energy Recovery Company Friday morning during a rescue training.

Eighteen firefighters from the two departments participated in the high angle training, focused on techniques for the proper rescue of an individual who is above ground and out of reach of an aerial ladder or ladder truck, or for the rescue of someone who is at a lowered location, such as down a steep river bank.

The training is preparing firefighters for “high risk, low frequency” events, according to both Biddeford Firefighter and instructor Ken Thorpe and Saco Deputy Fire Chief Rob Martin.

Such events could include an incident where a worker on a cell phone tower has a heart attack or a child decides to climb up a cell phone tower and then panics, said Martin.

“We don’t have a lot of these situations, but we still have to be prepared,” said Martin.

The smoke stack provides a good training site, said Thorpe.

“If anything happens, we’ll be able to handle it,” he said.

Martin said that Biddeford formed a rope rescue team about 20 years ago and Saco formed one about eight years ago, but there wasn’t a lot of training initially, and the two fire departments realized this was an area in which they needed to be more proficient.

The firefighters trained in August and September, and will train again in the spring.

Friday morning, trainer and Biddeford firefighter Derick Oullette sat down on a seat that was attached to a rope system up on the side of the smokestack as a firefighter prepared to climb up.

“He’s the eyes above,” said Martin.

A firefighter in a hard hat and harness climbed up a ladder on the side of the tower, hooked to a cable that ran down the side of the smokestack. As he climbed the ladder, he also used two lanyards to hook himself on to the ladder for additional support.

“The safety (level) is very high,” said Martin.

The firefighters climbed up 38 feet. They did not climb to the top of the smokestack, as there would not be enough time to have all 18 climb the entire length of it, said Martin. The climb of 38 feet was enough for them to get the necessary skills, he said.

During drills, a firefighter carries up a rescue line and attaches it to “the victim.” The two are lowered together on a rope pulley system.

Trainers came from both departments and the drills require a lot of ground support, said Martin.

“This is a joint operation. Each department couldn’t do this alone,” said Martin.

“It’s a good coordinated effort of resources,” said Thorpe.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.