
This reality made me wonder how these dedicated responders could use what they learn in my class when they are back home. The general consensus is usually a low-angle operation, responding with three to five personnel, a bag of rope and some associated hardware. Whenever I find myself in front of a new class of firefighters, I start out by asking what types of rope-rescue calls they are are typically responding to and with what staffing and equipment. This article is mainly for those under-resourced departments but also any first-arriving apparatus with limited staffing and equipment. My department is unique in that we can provide for a pretty substantial rope-rescue cache, but many more departments are not as lucky with their resources. Over the last several years, I have been fortunate to be given the opportunity to travel as a fire service instructor, teaching on several topics.
