Aside from the hazards firefighters face when fighting fires and working around hazardous situations, fire departments are called for other dangerous incidents which require special training and equipment.
To safely and successfully handle these types of special hazard calls, a higher level of training is required. For this reason the Sun City Fire Department initiated the Technical Rescue Program. This program is designed to properly train, equip, and handle rescue calls ranging from trench collapse at construction sites, structural collapse of buildings, or residents trapped due to heavy storm flooding.
Due to the flooding conditions the community experiences during the storm season, the swift water rescue-training program was the first of the technical rescue skills to be added to our department. Additional equipment such as flotation devices, head protection, and lifeline throw lines was provided in all response units. Also, additional equipment has been provided to secure vehicles in flooded areas allowing rescuers to reach stranded victims.
The department has three Technical Rescue Training Instructors and all firefighting personnel have 40 hours of hands on and classroom instruction. During the past year the department has activated this program 11 times in which 3 rescues have been completed without injury to citizen or department member.