Altoona Firefighters and Water Authority Personnel Complete Trench Rescue Training

Firefighters and municipal water utility personnel participated in a three-day trench rescue training program focused on the hazards and technical procedures associated with excavation emergencies.

Members of the Altoona Fire Department's A-Shift and personnel from the Altoona Water Authority completed the training on Friday, October 2, 2026, in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The final day included practical evolutions designed to reinforce safe operating procedures during trench collapse and below-grade rescue incidents.

The course addressed excavation safety, soil conditions, trench stabilization, shoring systems, atmospheric monitoring and victim removal techniques. Participants worked with procedures and equipment used to establish safer working conditions before rescuers enter an unstable excavation.

The joint training provided an opportunity for firefighters and water authority personnel to become familiar with each other's operational responsibilities. Utility crews regularly work around excavations and underground infrastructure, making coordination with emergency responders an important consideration during trench emergencies.

Altoona Fire Department leadership and IAFF Local 299 acknowledged the instructors and participants for their work during the program. The training supported continued technical rescue preparedness and cooperation between the city's fire service and water utility personnel.