Some incidents require special skills, equipment or apparatus to enable firefighters to handle the emergency.  On those occasions, Hillsboro Fire and Rescue has specially-trained firefighters, dedicated vehicles and the equipment to handle the situation. 

High Angle and Low Angle Rope Rescue Technicians

Whether it is a car over an embankment, an injured utility worker stranded on a tower or a fallen hiker, our firefighters have the rescue skills to bring those patients back to level ground while administering to their injuries at the same time.

These firefighters study, train and practice on the skills necessary to build complex rope haul systems allowing their descent or ascent to the patient's location.  They must also ensure the medical equipment and supplies reach the patient along with the rescuers.

Once at the patient's side, the rescuers must assess the injuries, stabilize the patient and return to level ground.  Additional firefighters provide the support to haul both the rescuers and their patient back to an awaiting ambulance. 

Confined Space Rescue Technicians

When workers enter a tunnel, sewer, utility vault, silo or a tank, they are in a confined space.  The hazards of working in that environment multiply with the type of container.  Tanks that have previously contained volatile chemicals or flammable liquids are particularly dangerous.  Remaining fumes and the lack of oxygen can mean death to the patient within four minutes.  As a result, hasty rescues by unskilled, but well-intentioned bystanders often result in additional casualties. 

Rescue of workers in these spaces present the same type of hazards to the firefighters:  cramped working spaces, lack of ventilation, noxious or poisonous fumes, and the threat of explosion or fire.   Confined space rescue teaches firefighters the discipline to perform a non-entry rescue, if possible.  If entry is required, rescuers must prepare a plan and execute that plan to avoid additional casualties.

Hillsboro Fire and Rescue has confined space props to enable our firefighters to practice the skills necessary to safely extract confined space patients in the most expedient and safe manner.

Structural Collapse Technicians

When the earth moves and buildings crumble, the occupants may be anywhere.  Search and rescue becomes a race against time.  The hazards are considerable.  Rescuers must reach the trapped occupants without causing additional collapse.  They must do so by cutting their way through steel or concrete  flooring, walls or supports while stopping frequently to listen for the faint sounds of the trapped occupants awaiting rescue. 

Hillsboro's Structural Collapse Technicians train on operating the specialized cutting and boring tools necessary to locate, reach and rescue occupants trapped under tons of concrete and steel.

Water Rescue - Operations

With the Tualatin River flowing through Hillsboro's Jackson Bottom Slough, several creeks feeding the area, and a popular lake only a few miles away, water rescue and recovery have become an important resource in public safety organizations. 

Hillsboro maintains a core of trained surface water rescue technicians and rescue boat operators to enable quick response to water rescue situations.  The personnel, along with a fast and agile outboard water jet-drive boat, provide a reliable resource for water emergencies.   This resource is dispatched along with other agencies' boat crews as part of the Washington County Water Rescue Consortium. 

Hazardous Materials - Operations

The high tech industry has found HIllsboro an excellent place to build manufacturing plants to fulfill the nation's need for computers, solar panels and other devices.  Those manufacturing processes often require chemicals that, if leaked or spilled, would be harmful to humans and the environment.  As a result, Hillsboro Firefighters train to the Operations level for Hazardous Materials incidents. 

Our crews provide support for Technicians from HazMat Teams that are dispatched via mutual aid or through the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Hazardous Materials Regional Response Teams.  There are 14 such teams across Oregon.

The goal in such incidents is to rescue any patients, protect other occupants or neighbors in the area, and prevent harm to the environment.  That means simply stopping the leak or spread of the product.  Commercial clean-up companies get the task of cleaning up the product and returning the site to normal.