Technical Teams – Spokane Valley Fire Department

SVFD DOES IT ALL

Within the Spokane Valley Fire Department service area, there are occasional emergencies that exceed the skills and tools that are normally reserved for firefighting, medical emergencies and rescues. When this occurs, our technical teams respond with advanced, technician-level training to quickly respond to save lives.

Our technical teams are divided into our Swift Water Rescue Team (SRT) and our Technical Rescue Team (TRT). We also participate in a joint effort with the Spokane Regional Air Unit to provide flight medics for search and rescue operations.

SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAM (SRT)

The Spokane River winds through the heart of our service area, starting at the Washington/Idaho state line and continuing to the City of Spokane border. To some the river serves as a peaceful backdrop while on the Centennial Trail, to others it is a recreational retreat to enjoy fishing, swimming and rafting. Unfortunately, many fail to respect the power and hidden dangers of the Spokane River. Some get in trouble and need to be rescued. Thankfully, our highly trained Swift Water Rescue and Ice Rescue teams are ready to respond during any time of year.

SWIFT WATER RESCUE

The Swift Water Rescue team is equipped with multiple inflatable kayaks, a cataraft, and two power boats. The Swift Water Rescue team members are trained to conduct a search with kayaks, swim out to a victim and make a contact rescue, as well as building rope systems to free water craft from rocks or other debris in the river. They have the ability to accomplish these rescues anytime of the year, regardless of the weather.

Previous slide

Next slide

ICE RESCUE

Crews stationed in our Liberty Lake, Greenacres, Sullivan and Otis Orchards stations along with our Swift Water Rescue team typically respond to ice rescue incidents. Each crew carries ice rescue gear on their fire apparatus from November through March. Firefighters performing an ice rescue wear dry suits for their protection and are typically tethered to rescuers on the shore by a rope. SVFD has a rescue sled and kayaks that can be deployed to assist with the rescue when the ice is broken. Although our primary focus for ice rescue is people, crews may attempt an animal rescue if the operation can be done safely.

Previous slide

Next slide

TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM (TRT)

Our Technical Rescue Teams are highly trained firefighters that have the ability to respond to a wide variety of emergencies that we see in our community. The Spokane Valley Fire Department TRT constantly improves upon the knowledge, skills, and affect required to mitigate life threatening incidents of varying complexity. Operational efforts are consistent with and guided by the Washington Administrative Code, the National Fire Protection Agency, and contemporary best practices within the industry.

CONFINED SPACE & ROPE RESCUE

The Tech Rescue Team can deploy an engine, a 105’ ladder, a medium rescue unit, and/or a technical rescue response unit that contains specialized shoring and rescue materials. Some examples where the team would be deployed include a climber stuck on a cliff or rock out-cropping, an injured worker at the top of a water tower, an injured teenager on an icy sledding hill, a worker trapped in an HVAC duct, and more.

Previous slide

Next slide

TRENCH RESCUE & USAR

Trench rescue is a specialized form of rescue, a subset of confined space rescue. Trench rescue involves shoring up the sides of a trench, and digging a trapped worker out of a collapsed ditch. As the Tech Rescue Team expands, our teams will also be trained in Urban Search and Rescue (USAR). USAR is a type of technical rescue operation that involves the location, extrication, and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in an urban area, namely structural collapse

Previous slide

Next slide

EXTRICATION & ENTRAPMENT

Three SVFD engines and Ladder 8 are equipped to respond to an “extrication” scene when one or more people are trapped. Most often this occurs when drivers and passengers become trapped inside vehicles at the scene of a motor vehicle collision. Occasionally, workers become trapped by industrial equipment. Tech Team members who work on the apparatus carrying the extrication equipment receive advanced extrication training. Advances in vehicle design including new steel alloys, pressurized gas airbag systems and others, cause the Department to regularly update training and equipment.

Previous slide

Next slide

SPOKANE REGIONAL AIR UNIT

The Spokane Regional Air Support Unit provides valuable search and rescue, fire suppression, critical infrastructure checks, natural disaster damage assessment, and more to the Inland Northwest. Click here to learn more about the Spokane Regional Air Unit.

HELICOPTER RESCUE

SVFD Medics serve on the Spokane Regional Air Support Unit to aid in search and rescue efforts and more. The Spokane Regional Air Support Unit is comprised Volunteer Pilots, Tactical Flight Officers (TFO’s) from local law enforcement agencies, and Helicopter Rescue Medics (HRM’s), certified EMT’s and Paramedics, from Spokane Valley Fire Department and Spokane City Fire Department.

Previous slide

Next slide