Salt River Project (SRP) recently hosted its annual Technical Rescue Drill in Glendale to conduct high-altitude mock scenarios designed to sharpen firefighters’ skills. 

The drill concluded a year of rescue training with Valley fire departments.

Glendale’s Agua Fria Generating Station served as the backdrop for the drill, where firefighters practiced rescues from heights of up to eight stories, or approximately 80 feet from the ground. 

"We see this as another opportunity for our local firefighters to become acquainted with a power plant and equipment in case SRP is in need of their services in the future," Agua Fria Plant Manager Sara McCoy said.

Officials defined the rescue exercises as a series of preparations for special operations that might involve mountain events, “swift” water emergencies or collapsed building incidents. Glendale Fire Department Public Information Officer Ron Hart said that high angle ropes, although used infrequently, are a necessity to the fire professional’s range of skills.

McCoy said the training is essential for SRP personnel.

Individual exercise sessions included response, rescue or recovery, rope rescue with tripod and highpoint systems. Scenarios included patient access, packaging and removal or transport. The mock rescues took place from atop the plant's steam unit boiler.