Technical Rescue Team  (TRT)

The TRT is a multi-disciplinary technical rescue team from SLO County emergency response agencies, administered by CAL FIRE/San Luis Obispo, and designed to assist with rescues beyond the scope of engine company personnel. The types of rescues include, but are not limited to, Swift Water Rescues, Flood Rescues, Low and High Angle Rescues, Trench Rescues, near-shore Ocean Rescues (including Surf Rescues), Structural Collapse Rescues, and other technical rescues that require skills, knowledge, and equipment beyond those of initial attack resources

The TRT will consist of 19 individuals, including 14 CDF employees and five (5) employees from other San Luis Obispo County fire and emergency agencies. When dispatched, the TRT will respond to technical rescues to assist ongoing incident activities or to assume operations level and safety officer assignments as    an interdisciplinary team well-versed in swift or flood water, ocean, high-angle,  trench, confined space, and urban search and rescues.

Goals:

Meet ICS staffing requirements for two (2) US&R Type 2 Rescue Companies or 1 US&R Type 2 Strike Team.  The Strike Team Leader must have successfully completed SFM Rescue Systems 1 in addition to normal Strike Team Leader prerequisites.

• Provide input regarding ICS equipment complements for one (1) US&R Type II and one US&R Type III vehicle.
• Meet ICS staffing guidelines for two (2) SWFR Type 2 Teams or one (1) SWFR Type I Rescue Team.
• Provide input regarding ICS equipment complements for one (1) SWFR Type 1 Inventory.
• Provide direction, assistance, and training to CAL FIRE and other personnel in operational and awareness level technical rescue training.
• Provide input regarding FEMA, OES, and other grants as needed/available.
• Maintain the skills of CAL FIRE employees by providing access to specialized training.

Team Selection

TRT members will be selected by a sub-group of the CAL FIRE Operation's Committee and approved by the Chief. Candidates for the TRT will be selected by resume review based on:

Leadership or extensive knowledge in one or more of the following areas:  swift water, ocean, cliff side, trench, confined space, and collapsed building rescue.

Technical rescue instruction experience in one or more of the following areas: swift water, ocean, cliff side, trench, confined space, and collapsed building rescue

Additional training, education, abilities, and/or experience that the candidate possesses that would enhance the overall capabilities of the team.

The ability and reliability to respond to drills, training, and technical rescue incidents throughout the county on a routine basis.

The Chief will designate one team member as the Team Leader.  The Team    Leader will designate one member as the TRT Training Officer and another as the Team Recorder.  The Division Chief liaison to the TRT will be the organizational supervisor of the Team Leader.

Training

The team will train and/or once per month as a group, on duty.

After selection to the TRT, members will be expected to pass the courses below:

Team Members must annually re-certify in the above classes to perform rescues in those disciplines.

The TRT Training Officer will maintain a record of types of drills and the attendance of each team member. A copy of the drill record will be sent to the CALFIRE Training Bureau and the Team Recorder.

The TRT Training Officer will submit recommendations of training needs to the Team Leader every November 1st for the annual training schedule.

Documentation of initial training (copy of certification) for CALFIRE employees will be maintained by CAL FIRE Training Bureau as well as by the TRT Training Officer.

Documentation (CAL FIRE IIPP 6 or equivalent) of training for CAL FIRE employees that will re-certify the member in any of the above disciplines will be maintained by the CAL FIRE Training Bureau as well as by the TRT Training Officer.

Non-CAL FIRE members will maintain their records of initial and re-certification training per their department policy as well as submit a copy to the TRT Training Officer.

Team members will have high priority with the Training Bureau for additional specialty rescue courses.

The Team Leader and the Division Chief liaison, in coordination with the member's supervisor, will approve all training for CAL FIRE team members prior to training.

The Chief must approve all TRT training outside the San Luis Obispo County. 

Other Agency Requests

 Requests for the TRT by other jurisdictions within and outside of San Luis Obispo County will be placed through normal channels.

Requests outside of San Luis Obispo County must be approved by the Duty Chief.

The Duty Chief will be advised anytime the TRT is assigned to another agency.

The Duty Chief may consider sending a TRT member as an Assistant Strike Team Leader on all OES Engine Strike Teams expecting a US&R component to their duties. The individual will provide technical expertise to the STL as well as other duties as required.

The first arriving member will give an "Updated Report on Conditions" to the ECC and continue to brief the ECC as appropriate. 

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