Samatters Radio

The Denver Drill that John discusses had been performed all week using two ladders and two firefighters at the sill.  But the crew on duty on this day was confident that they could perform the drill using one ladder and one firefighter.  In the process of removing Chief Vanatta (the victim) from the window, the officer on the ladder had to assist in pulling him through the window, which caused Chief Vanatta to be inverted (face up versus face down). In an effort to correct his positioning, Chief Vanatta rolled off the ladder.  The officer grabbed onto Chief Vanatta and both of them fell 10 feet to the concrete.  Recovery from their injuries took 2-3 months. Deputy Fire Chief John Vanatta Jr. joined the Siloam Springs Fire Department in January 2017. DC Vanatta is the department training officer, an adjunct instructor for the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, and is currently the President of the Northwest Arkansas Metro Chief’s Training Officers Association. He is also the Captain/Training Officer of the Linco