High-Stakes Emergencies: How firefighters train for rocky cliff rescues

CANNON BEACH, Ore. (InvestigateTV) — When most people think of firefighting, they picture flames and fire engines. Along Oregon’s rugged coastline, firefighters face a different kind of emergency. The type that includes rescuing hikers who have fallen from cliffs.

The Cannon Beach Fire Department regularly trains for rope rescues on the area’s treacherous 75-foot cliffs, where one misstep can be deadly.

Their training involves ropes, waves, and split-second decisions that can mean the difference between life and death.

The department has adapted to handle emergencies that extend far beyond traditional firefighting.

Alongside their fire trucks, crews maintain wetsuits and jet skis, preparing for rescues that can range from structure fires to ocean emergencies to cliff rescues, sometimes all in one day.

Learn more about how these first responders train for emergencies here.