For the last several weeks, Arizona local fire departments have come to an Achen-Gardner job site for trench safety and rescue training. Our project site features a 16-foot-deep trench that is being used for this training.

Captain Tom McCracken with the Phoenix Fire Department Heavy Rescue 41 was also instrumental in the organization of these trainings. He said fire departments have a well-known saying: “Simple solutions for complex problems.” The competent person on the scene must communicate with the first emergency responder possible, and this person carries on the chain of information. That way, leaders at the site and the rescue crew will quickly decide how to rescue someone without putting others in danger.

We worked with Trench-Ade to host 11 fire departments across 12 training sessions. Every Special Operations Firefighter in the Phoenix Valley was trained on trench rescues at one of our Scottsdale job sites. Thank you to our employee-owners, Trench-Ade, and the following fire departments for participating in this collaborative education:

• Scottsdale Fire Department
• Phoenix Fire Department
• Tempe Fire Department
• Mesa Fire Department
• Daisy Mountain Fire Department
• Glendale Fire Department
• Peoria Fire Department
• Salt River Fire Department
• Chandler Fire Department
• Buckeye Fire Department
• Superstition Fire Department

Visit Fox 10 Phoenix News for their coverage of this firefighter safety training.