Lucky Friday Mine wins rescue team competition

Hecla Mining Co.'s Lucky Friday mine rescue team was the overall champion at the Central Mine Rescue competition, held May 9-11 in Kellogg.

The mine took home the overall team trophy, along with first place in the field exercise, first place in the first-aid exercise and second place in the rope exercise. In addition, team trainer Scott Hogamier receive this year’s team trainer award for his leadership and dedication in mine rescue. Also on the team were: Jeff Hunter, Zac Thomas, Nick Furlin, Bob Burden, Dustin Wuolle and Geoff Parker.

The company’s Greens Creek Mine in Juneau, Alaska, placed second.

“At Hecla, we strongly believe in the importance of emergency preparedness, and are very proud of the high level of professionalism and skill that our Lucky Friday and Greens Creek teams have achieved,” Hecla President and CEO Phillips S. Baker Jr. said.

The contests help train and prepare mine rescue teams and individual members for some of the riskiest emergency responses undertaken, often traveling deep into underground mines to find missing or trapped miners, or recover mining operations in treacherous conditions.

The competition was comprised of five categories to test individual and team mine rescue skills.

including a written test, field exercise, team technical skills, rope exercise and first aid. A total of seven teams participated in the three-day event.