2 minute read
FOXY Hosts 62 First Responders for Training
by OneWatco
Fox Valley & Lake Superior Rail System (FOXY) team members in Wisconsin recently helped train first responders for emergencies related to railroad operations.
On June 17, members of the FOXY team and 62 first responders from Wausau and five surrounding towns came to Wausau for training. The group included three members of the Medevac Aspirus Helicopter crew based out of the Wausau downtown airport.
Training began in a classroom, covering topics such as Operation Lifesaver (a non-profit focused on educating the public about safety around railroad tracks), do’s and don’ts when it comes to railroad property, and how to contact the railroad in an emergency. After about 90 minutes, participants went outside to rotate through three stations:
• A locomotive station, led by Kyle Loofboro, FOXY chief mechanical officer, who identified equipment components and associated risks.
• A railcar station, led by Trainmaster Emerson Zentz, whose topics included car components like hand brakes, and securing equipment.
• A catch-all station, led by Matt Koser, manager of safety and training. He discussed such topics as maintaining a safe distance from tracks, crossings, and bungalow/signal system electrical safety.
The Fire Department of Nokomis, about an hour north of Wausau, reached out to gauge interest in a major safety training event, and Koser was the ideal person to ask.
His connection with emergency response began in high school, when he joined his local volunteer fire department. As an adult, he’s volunteered for the Evansville, Wisconsin, fire district, and presently for the Village of Maine, north of Wausau. “So I’ve always had an interest in working with our local emergency responders and helping them gain knowledge that may help them in an emergency situation,” he said. In fact, he first began working with local emergency responders in communities along Watco’s Wisconsin & Southern Railroad more than 15 years ago.
The FOXY provided a meal to close out the training, which Koser concluded was a success. “We got great feedback about the presentation and will definitely be partnering with more local emergency responders in the future.”
