East Providence Fire Department Technical Rescue Team

The East Providence Fire Department's Technical Rescue Team is an extension of the capabilities of the normal fire-rescue and emergency medical response.  These will be events that are "outside the norm" of a typical emergency call.  The East Providence Fire Department Technical Rescue Team (TRT) was established in 2004 to provide a response capability for specialized rescue situations.  Our Team is comprised of Fire Department members who are trained and certified to respond and provide technical knowledge, high-risk work duties, and specialized equipment in technical rescue situations.  

In 2004, team members were originally trained in high-angle rope rescue and confined space rescue.  This initial training was conducted through the Rhode Island Fire Academy.  In 2009, the department was awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) that allowed 32 members of the TRT to receive an additional 274 hours of training.  This training was provided by industry leaders from Spec Rescue International of Virginia and Heavy Rescue Incorporated of Massachusetts.  The AFG training encompassed rope rescue and structural collapse rescue.  Over the years, the Department has rescued people from unusual places such as the mixing barrel of a cement truck and an underground well and drainage run-off catch basins.