SCDF’s elite DART team demonstrated precision, teamwork and mastery of their craft in a daring high-altitude rescue operation.
Late in the evening of 24 July 2024, as most people were turning in for the night, the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) — along with officers from Central Fire Station and Kallang Fire Station — gathered at the Singapore Flyer for a joint height rescue exercise with the Singapore Flyer Team. The simulated mission involved a rescue scenario from two separate capsules on the Flyer, which tested both their precision and teamwork.
Before the exercise began, the DART Rota Commanders conducted a comprehensive safety briefing, covering all essential protocols to ensure the safety of every team member. Following that, the DART Specialists performed detailed checks on their height rescue equipment, which included full-body harnesses, ropes, fall arrest systems and descending devices.
These checks were carried out at three levels — individual, buddy and supervisor — adding crucial layers of safeguards. Given the complexity of working at such heights, there was no margin for error.
DART Specialists are in peak physical and mental condition, ensuring that they are always ready for the most challenging and demanding types of operations.
Starting from the maintenance deck, two teams of DART Specialists began their ascent towards the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock capsules, scaling the massive circumference ladders of the Flyer. Each team was led by a DART Rota Commander and their deputy, with safety officers stationed at various points to oversee the operation and ensure everything proceeded safely and smoothly.
The ascent, which lasted two hours, required the DART Specialists to demonstrate their agility, strength and teamwork. Besides having to navigate the beams and structures of the Flyer, the team also had to contend with the effects of wind, glaring lights and the presence of high-voltage cables — factors that added additional complexity to the mission.
While the two teams made their way up the Flyer manually, another group of DART Specialists employed the High-Level Articulated Fire and Rescue Vehicle (HLA90) to reach the 9 o’clock capsule. This was the first time the HLA90, which was acquired in 2022 and has a reach of 90 metres, was deployed for such a rescue exercise. It provided a quick and safe way to transport rescuers to the capsule.
In just 12 minutes, the Section Commander from Kallang Fire Station expertly maneuvered the HLA cage into position, bringing the DART Specialists close to the capsule. They then transitioned to a ladder and approached the capsule’s top hatch to gain access. Once inside, the team stabilised and secured the “casualty”, carefully preparing for the next phase of the mission.
The final challenge involved safely lowering the “casualty” to the ground. Given the height, wind conditions and structure of the Flyer, the descent had to be carried out with precision. The DART Specialists in the capsule coordinated closely with their colleagues on the ground to ensure the “casualty” was gradually and securely lowered.
For SCDF’s DART Specialists, such high-stakes operations are all in a day’s work. Their dedication and expertise in overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges make them one of the most elite rescue teams in the region — ready to spring into action when lives are on the line.
*This story has been adapted from an article that was originally published in SCDF’s digital magazine, Rescue995.
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