Big Rig Rescue handout
Questions about heavy rescue that involves tractor trailers and other heavy vehicles? Download the Big Rig Rescue handout from Billy Leach’s Firehouse Expo class below. Billy also posts great training tips and pictures on his Facebook page, Big Rig Rescue.
Here’s a little information about Billy Leach, Jr. from Big Rig Rescue. Billy has been actively involved in Emergency Services since 1976, combining career and volunteer experience. He serves as the Senior Presenter and Planner for BIG RIG RESCUE™. Frequently he conducts training in vehicle rescue, and has presented at the International Vehicle Extrication Learning Symposium, Firehouse Expo, Search and Rescue Disaster Response Conference, Fire Department Instructor’s Conference, Fire Rescue Magazine’s First Due Conference, American Towman Exposition, NC Extrication College, FDNY’s Technical Rescue School, and many regional fire/rescue training seminars. Billy has co-authored a book, BIG RIG RESCUE©, on the topic of heavy truck anatomy and extrication.
Heavy Rescue
Overturned Tractor-Trailer Extrication

Overturned Tractor-Trailer Extrication
Check out the overturned Tractor-Trailer, confirmed entrapment, and power pole down that Elizabethtown Fire Dept Station 74 had earlier today.

Large Vehicle with Heavy Entrapment
The Washtenaw County Technical Rescue Team recently assisted Milan Area Firefighters with this complex extrication. Team members assisted Milan Firefighters and utilized HURST Jaws of Life and Paratech to extricate the heavily entrapped driver quickly.
Heavy Rescue
Large Animal Rescue
Working with their past experince, the Patterson Fire Department’s completed their 4th horse rescue in the past several years.

Horse Rescue
Per the post from the Patterson Fire Department’s Facebook page:
At 0732, 25th of August 2021, the Patterson fire department was dispatched for a public assist to a local farm. Patterson’s heavy rescue, 22-6-1, arrived on scene and found a 31-year-old male horse, named “Dozer”, in distress. He had apparently fallen and managed to get himself stuck between a rock and a fence line. At first, the crew attempted to assist the horse in getting up by shifting his position. It became apparent that additional equipment was going to be needed to help Dozer out since he had become too exhausted to get up on his own. After some discussion, it was established that the best plan of action was to use a Paratech bipod system. It would be used as an artificial high directional with TU-32 griphoist’s assistance to lift the horse up. With a lot of sweat and effort, the crew was able to lift the horse up onto his feet. After some much-needed fluids and rest, we were happy to see Dozer trot away, unassisted.
An interesting fact, this is Patterson Fire Department’s 4th horse rescue in the past several years, all with successful outcomes.
Photos below from Andrew Akin