It's every firefighter's worst nightmare: hearing the "Mayday" call over the radio, indicating a fellow firefighter in trouble inside a burning building or another hazardous situation.

When the firefighter in trouble issues the "Mayday," that starts the deployment of a Rapid Intervention Team or Crew, a group of firefighters whose sole purpose on the fireground is to stand by with dedicated tools to respond to the distress call. While it's a skill set that firefighters hope they never have to call on, they must, nonetheless, be proficient.

Sykesville fire crews spent a Sunday morning in their monthly training, going over various skills and drills to sharpen that proficiency. After a brief lecture by Deputy Chief Joe Dennis and Captain Dave Polikoff, members participated in several RIT-related exercises.

One exercise involved the deployment of so-called RIT lines, a safety rope that allows firefighters to tie off in large search areas, so that they are always connected to a way out of the building. Another involved the breaching of windows to create a door-like opening to allow for a firefighter rescue. A third exercise involved firefighters responding to a simulated "Mayday" call to search for and rescue a downed firefighter.

In addition to the monthly drills, Sykesville firefighters participate in training opportunities on their weekly scheduled duty crew nights, in training classes sponsored by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems , and in other specialized training scheduled by the department.