Jason Ilowite

Career firefighter in Loudoun county, VA and avid rope rescue enthusiast/instructor.

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

@maxwalsh92 Nice man Chief Dodson, huge supporter of the Rescue Companies!

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

Had a great time teaching this class. Very cool to see several experienced members who have already attended collapse school and been around shoring for a long time coming back to classes to stay sharp.

[Max Walsh @maxwalsh92]

Great time at VDFP Emergency Building Shoring Systems course in Leesburg this week. Awesome review of skills previously learned at structural collapse school plus a lot more nuanced information.

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

CMC Levr kit being used as a twin-tension system as a way to accomplish a roof rescue with only the gear we carry. Adding a second Levr provided more strength, redundancy, and a super controlled descent with a heavy load.

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

Rescue 2 Training was at the National Institutes of Health the last few days working on rope rescue techniques to solve their most likely rescue situations at their huge, and diverse campus. Great group of motivated firefighters!

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

@Tobia698 @VDEM The division 2 team did incredibly well this week, you guys all have good reason to be proud!

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

Spent this past week as a facilitator for Virginia Rescue Challenge 23. I was assigned a complex rope scenario under the memorial bridge. Great job to all the teams that came through, there’s no other rescue event like Rescue Challenge in the nation. Proud to be a part of it!

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

Ran some testing on a 7 dollar goodwill chair today to figure out suitability as a bailout anchor. Pull tested to over 300lbf, then shock loaded by bailing on it. Generated 466lbf with no change to integrity. Also loaded cyclically with multiple bailouts and no change.

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

@firemandowd The testing you guys did was the inspiration! We were most curious about the laminate. We were wrapping the prusik around the adze/pike end first, and the entire bar was pulling out with almost no force. Pulling from the fork end was totally different. Lots more to do for sure

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

For my FD friends on twitter, we ran through some backyard testing on using the pike end of a pro-bar for a bailout anchor in laminate flooring. 1 strike only with 1.5” insertion held up to 400+lbf, a FF bailing full speed and shocking the anchor was just over 300lbf. Cool stuff!

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

@maxwalsh92 Good luck bro, you’ll do great. Excited to have another member with this valuable knowledge

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

A few shots from the first of several tower rescue training days for our technical rescue companies. Being able to train on this tower was a long process that involved many people. The result is invaluable preparation for tower rescues. Thanks to all who helped!

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

Spent this week in Michigan training at MUSAR’s Advanced Trench Symposium. Tons of innovative techniques for trench shoring all tested by engineers on site for the whole class. Huge thank you to my department for supporting the continued development of tech rescue!

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

Great couple days in Danville with VDFP doing emergency building shoring.

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

@alex1braun Can’t confirm or deny yet bro, hopefully soon!

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

A few photos from some notable things my shift has been up to the last few weeks. We thrive on drilling every single day and collectively thinking of the next problem we may face that we can train for. It’s what the citizens deserve!

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

Some “man vs. machine” drills from the last few tours. Any type of extrication is possible these days, and our job is to be prepared. Some more effective, inexpensive props built by guys who care about being ready for anything!

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

Great week teaching rope technician with VDFP on home turf in Loudoun. Good group, and lots of fun rigging.

[Jason Ilowite @IlowiteJason]

It was a great morning to get out On the Potomac to make sure we’re all familiar with the Sterling section of the river. Timed launching drills, landmark familiarization, towing drills, and boat handling to ensure we’re ready if needed.