YFD personnel complete Technical Rescue training

Four members of the Yuma Fire Department (YFD) were recognized for their recent completion of Technical Rescue training Wednesday.

YFD said Fire Captain Alvin Luedtke, Fire Engineer Aaron Wonders, Firefighter David Padilla Jr., and Firefighter Justing Zahn attended a 200-hour training program made possible with the assistance of grant funding in cooperation with the Southern Arizona Regional Technical Rescue Group.

The course took five months to complete and required monthly trips to Tucson. Each trip involved 40 hour week of training on one of the five major technical rescue areas: High and Low Angle Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Structural Collapses, Trench Rescue, and Swift Water Rescue.

According to YFD, the work involved was intense, physically demanding, and conducted in a variety of environments and weather conditions.

After completing the training, they have been added to the YFD Techincal Rescue team.