High-stakes training

No, Newport Beach firefighters haven’t taken up window washing as their newest skill.

Actually, they were “swing-stage” training, where firefighters learn how to use high-rise scaffolding.

The training is relevant because of the city’s many high-rises, or you can just ask the men last year who were found dangling from a malfunctioning scaffold last year at Fashion Island.

The Irvine Co., which is located in Newport Center, teamed up with Newport Window Maintenance and Olympique Scaffolding Design to give the firefighters some real-world experience with the equipment.

Firefighters were schooled in the types of scaffolds used, how they typically work, how they can malfunction and how to fix them, and finally on proper rescue techniques.

— Joseph Serna