Practicing rescues

Urban, search and rescue firefighters saved cell phone technicians trapped atop a communication tower Thursday afternoon during a mock training scenario.

The annual training scenario, held at Fire Station 21 on Oak Street, was created to get highly-skilled firefighters and wireless communication technicians to work together during rescues, “so we both know what each guy expects,” Glendale Fire Capt. Stuart Stefani said.

The technicians usually climb radio towers to reach phone lines, so the Fire Department often trains them on how to maneuver through challenging situations.

During the training, the technicians participated in self-rescue drills. If they become trapped or get hurt while on the radio towers, the firefighters must work with them for safe rescues.

The Fire Department’s Urban, Search and Rescue Team responds to two to three rescues per month, Stefani said.

The team went out on 24 rescue calls last year, he added.