Slingerlands Fire Department Hosts Multi-Agency Technical Rope Evolution in Albany County

Slingerlands, NY - Technical rescue personnel and firefighters from six Albany County departments gathered Friday morning behind the Plug Power campus in Slingerlands to execute an extensive, multi-agency technical rope rescue drill.

The multi-company evolution took place during the morning of Friday, November 6, 2026 (with debriefs released Saturday, November 7), bringing together members from Slingerlands Fire Department, East Berne Fire Department, Berne Fire Department, Guilderland Center Fire Department, North Bethlehem Fire Department, and Selkirk Fire Department.

Operating in challenging terrain behind the industrial facility, participating crews completed multiple technical evolutions. Firefighters drilled on establishing mechanical advantage hauling systems, patient packaging using specialized litters and harnesses, high-point anchor rigging, and coordinated raising and lowering operations designed for low- and high-angle slope evacuations.

Department leadership highlighted that joint tactical evolutions are critical for establishing seamless inter-operability, standardizing rigging equipment and communication commands, and maintaining technical rescue proficiency across regional mutual aid partners in Albany County.