Fire & Emergency Services provides a complete Heavy Rescue service. Many years ago the fire department started providing rescue services. Pry bars, K-12 saws and manual hydraulic rescue equipment were the tools of the time. The late 1960’s introduced the “Jaws of Life” and our first dedicated rescue truck. Over the years we have gone through six rescue trucks. Four of which were light duty rescues built on 1-ton chassis. At one point in the 80’s a second unit was added which lessened the load on Rescue 1. Rescue 2 was a similar equipped vehicle and reduced the alarm load to one unit. At this time all calls of a medical nature were run by the rescue trucks. These trucks were overloaded with heavy equipment. We were kept very busy in the region, as it was one of only a few such units in the area. We were very involved and active in the training and education in vehicle extrication. Delivering training seminars statewide, performing many demonstrations and participating in competitions kept personnel busy.

FEMA members prepare to breach concrete beams A teetering van is shored up on a bridge

Firefighters practice vehicle stabilization

Over time, the need to expand the services offered was identified. Technical or Heavy Rescue was born in 1994. Confined Space rescue, Rope rescue, Heavy Extrication, Trench (excavation) rescue and Structure Collapse were all added as services. The purchase of an E-One rescue truck, which has since been rebuilt by American LaFrance, was made to accommodate these services. Heavy Rescue 31 (HR-31) is very well equipped for all types of technical rescue operations. In support of HR-31 is Collapse Rescue Trailer 31 (CRT-31), which is a unit that carries shoring and additional collapse rescue supplies and equipment. A re-designed and rebuilt beverage delivery trailer has replaced a Wellscargo 28 foot trailer as our collapse unit. This is the only unit of its kind in the southern Front Range area.

COTF-1 at the WTC ground zero site

Our department is one of 14 departments in Colorado which make up the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Colorado Urban Search and Rescue Task Force (COTF-1). Our training area with extensive props has made us an inaugural part of the training and certification for FEMA COTF-1. Our heavy rescue team works very close with the Colorado Springs Fire Department Heavy Rescue team, training and working together on a regular basis. Personnel from our department were deployed to New York City in 2001 for the World Trade Center terrorist attacks for urban search and rescue as part of COTF-1. Our Heavy Rescue is housed at Station 31, however all 5 stations have a unit that carries vehicle extrication equipment; Truck 32, Engine 33, Engine 34 and Engine 35. The Collapse unit is housed at the training center.

Firefighters extricate a patient from an MVA

Rescue photo gallery

Rescue History photo gallery