With growing concern over the lack of specialized rescue services within Snohomish County and the need to adhere to strict State and Federal regulations regarding rescue, Fire District 1 decided to take a proactive stand on this important issue. In the winter of 1992, the decision was made to establish its own technical rescue team.
Still responsible for its normal firefighting and medical aid duties, the team would be the first of its kind in Snohomish county and would respond to special rescue situations including:
- High and low angle rope rescue
- Trench and building collapse rescue
- Confined space rescue
- Surface water and ice rescue
After extensive planning, the fire department initially chose 9 firefighters to train for qualification as rescue technician. 3 captains were added a short while after. The minimum training would include classes that dealt with each of the rescue disciplines.
- Rescue Systems I
- Rescue Systems II
- Trench Rescue
- Confined Space Rescue
- Ice Rescue
- Surface Water Rescue
- High Angle Rope Rescue
- Helicopter Rappeling
These core classes totaled more than 120 hours of basic training. In addition, our technicians work through various organizations to teach rescue skills to other local police and fire departments. We also have developed an operations level rescue program teaching our engine companies rescue skills that enable them to assist the technicians.
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