Local fire departments partner with Jeepers

By Dalton Smith
For the MVI

The Mon Valley Jeep Emergency Response Team (JERT) partnered with Lock No. 4 Volunteer Fire Company and Rostraver Township No. 1 (Webster) Fire Department during a joint agency search and rescue training at Palmer Park, Donora, on Aug. 30.
Training included members of the Mon Valley JERT and Rostraver Twp. No. 1 VFD working with Lock No. 4 VFC’s airscent search dogs and familiarization with their drone. This helped all agencies prepare for possible future calls of emergency care in different townships in the Mon Valley area.
The idea of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) isn’t something new, but when Jeeps are involved, JERT rolls in.
The national CERT program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.
The Mon Valley JERT, a subsidiary of the Mov Valley Jeepers, Inc., does all of this, plus assists in any and all types of public service organizations, such as fire departments, police departments, ambulance services, Red Cross, etc.
The majority of services provided are search and rescue operations and traffic control needs for other emergency situations.
JERT has verbal and/or written agreements with at least five volunteer fire departments, two police departments and two ambulance services for use of its services The organization is hoping to continue to expand.

Lock #4 Volunteer Fire Company’s done awaits take-off during a joint agency search and rescue training at Palmer Park, Donora, on Aug. 30, 2021. Training included members of the Mon Valley Jeep Emergency Response Team and Rostraver Twp. No. 1 Volunteer Fire Company working with Lock #4 VFC’s airscent search dogs and familiarization with their drone. This helped all agencies prepare for possible future calls of emergency care in different townships in the Mon Valley area. (Photo by Dalton Smith)

Fred Schwab, with the Lock #4 Volunteer Fire Company, explains how they use drone technology during a joint agency search and rescue training at Palmer Park, Donora, on Aug. 30, 2021. Training included members of the Mon Valley Jeep Emergency Response Team and Rostraver Twp. No. 1 Volunteer Fire Company working with Lock #4 VFC’s airscent search dogs and familiarization with their drone. This helped all agencies prepare for possible future calls of emergency care in different townships in the Mon Valley area. (Photo by Dalton Smith)