Members of the Burlington Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team used Hucks Harbor at Great River Casino Resort to practice rope rescue techniques.
Firefighters worked with several different rope systems, practiced rappelling and trained on specialized rescues known as “pick-offs.” Those techniques are used to reach someone who is stranded or incapacitated in a difficult elevated location, such as a bluff, building, water tower or cellphone tower.
The department says the training prepares firefighters for high-risk situations that don’t happen often, but require specialized skills when they do.
The Burlington Fire Department thanked Great River Casino Resort for providing Hucks Harbor for the training and Billy Sims for donating lunch to the team.