On Monday, May 14, 2018, members of the East Pierce Fire and Rescue Technical Rescue Team visited Oldcastle Precast in Auburn, Washington to thank them for donating materials to build training props for technical rescue training.

Captain Kevin Stabenfeldt, Lieutenant Rob Ruszala and East Pierce Fire Chief Bud Backer presented John Marticio of Oldcastle Precast a plaque thanking the company for their support.

“Without your support, we could not conduct the realistic training that is necessary to prepare us for the real thing” said Captain Stabenfeldt.

Oldcastle Precast delivered precast catch basins and man holes, to EPFR Station 116 where members of EPFR and the Pierce County Special Operations Team (PCSORT) have trained using the materials. The training in structural collapse scenarios includes breaching concrete walls, heavy lifts, and physically moving heavy objects to rescue trapped individuals.

“Donations such as this save our department thousands of dollars,” said Backer. “We can’t do realistic training without these types of items, and with donations like this, we can train more often.”

East Pierce Fire & Rescue, Fire Chief Bud Backer thanks John Marticio of Oldcastle Precast for their donations and support. Submitted photo