Firefighters with the West End Fire and Rescue Department spent the past week participating in training exercises designed to strengthen rescue skills and emergency response preparedness.
Training is a routine priority for the department, as firefighters must be ready to respond to emergencies at any time, explained the department in a post made on Facebook.
In the same post, the department fittingly cited a famous quote from legendary college football coach Bear Bryant: “It’s not the will to win that matters…everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.”
The exercises help firefighters develop the precision and coordination required during technical rescue situations, including vehicle crashes and structural collapses, where rescuers often rely on spotters and careful tool operation.
“Training is the foundation of the modern fire service,” explains the department. “When lives and property are on the line, firefighters must be ready at a moment’s notice. Unlike football, firefighters never know when their ‘Super Bowl’ call will come. That’s why training frequently—often daily—is a priority at West End Fire and Rescue.”
Photos from West End Fire and Rescue show the team hard at work while training.
On Thursday evening, firefighters gathered at the department’s main station for a skills-focused drill using hydraulic rescue tools, commonly known as the “Jaws of Life.” The training included team challenges modeled after games such as Jenga and an egg relay, designed to test tool control, balance, teamwork, and communication.
On Saturday, West End firefighters joined crews from across Moore County for a live-fire training exercise at a donated structure. During the training, the home was intentionally set on fire so firefighters could practice interior fire attack and other key operations in a controlled environment.
Crews conducted searches for potential victims while also practicing ventilation techniques, ladder operations, and forcible entry.
Following the training Saturday, firefighters were dispatched to assist with a large fire in Southern Pines involving a barn, a home, vehicles, and brush. West End responded with multiple firefighters and apparatus and remained on scene for several hours providing assistance.
“West End Fire and Rescue remains committed to training hard and being ready when our community needs us most,” the department appropriately concludes.
Photos courtesy West End Fire and Rescue.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Written by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
Want Moore news that matters? Please click here to sign up for the free Sandhills Sentinel e-newsletter.
Follow Sandhills Sentinel: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Threads | Newsletter
