Civil War re-enactments and a disappointed horse owner have spurred new training for some Prince William County emergency responders. Prince William County fire and rescue crews will attend a Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue course in Middleburg, Va., next month. The three-day course teaches responders how to handle emergencies involving horses, cattle and other beasts when they involved in accidents with trailers, and emergencies like barn fires.
It’s the second year the department has sent staff to the training, Battalion Chief Kurt Heindrichs said. He said the department decided to send responders after a horse owner was forced to get the animal out of a pond without the correct equipment last year because fire officials said they couldn’t rescue large animals.
“We realized we let them down,” Heindrichs said.
The training could come in handy this year. Events during the 150th anniversary of the Civil War will bring 300 to 375 extra horses to the county.
“We want to make sure we’re prepared,” Heindrichs said. “That’s a significant influx of horses.”
The department will send four or six members to the training, which will take place May 16 to 18. The Nokesville Horse Society has raised money for the course’s tuition fees.
Rebecca Gimenez, president of Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue, said the organization’s courses aim to help first responders understand how animals react in emergency situations.
Animal emergencies “are a disaster to the owner,” Gimenez said. She said authorities in Virginia are realizing that horse owners need responders who can handle situations with large animals.
“Being able to have responders who understand the frustration of dealing with an animal that doesn’t understand English is important,” she said. “It’s not like a human, when you can say, ‘lay there and we’ll get you out.’ The horse does not understand that.”
Heindrichs said fire departments across the country are evolving into “all-hazards response agencies” and crews need to train for all types of emergencies.
“It goes way beyond just putting fires out,” he said.
