Pueblo Fire Department fills big need

The Pueblo Fire Department filled a big need Saturday.

16 firefighters became certified rope rescue technicians. The department is up to 20 firefighters with that certification.

The department teamed up with Fort Carson for a six-day course on rope rescuing, which includes high and low angle rescuing and high-line rescues.

“It’s important for the members that are doing the rescue to be trained properly to make sure they don’t get hurt or the victim gets hurt, but it’s also important for the city as far as liability goes to have our members trained to a national standard,” Capt. Will Gray said.

Gray said because Fort Carson is volunteering its time to train the firefighters, the city is saving about $50,000.

Training also took place at an old meat packing plant, the Arkansas River Levee and a tower on the Pueblo Fire Department’s training grounds.