Roof Rope Rescue

Course Description:

Urban rescue problems often require firefighters to access victims from above when ladders or interior routes aren’t viable. This hands-on course focuses on top-down rope rescue operations, teaching firefighters how to safely access, package, and remove patients using rope systems deployed from the roof.

Working alongside the experienced cadre from Elevated Safety, students will build practical skills in roof anchor selection, edge management, rope system setup, and patient packaging, with an emphasis on simple, reliable systems that can be deployed quickly in real-world emergencies. Scenario-based evolutions will reinforce coordination between roof and ground teams during controlled top-down rescues.

Biography:

Joe M. Anderson II

Joe brings more than 20 years of experience in the fire service, technical rescue, rope operations and dive instruction. Born in Texas and now based in Colorado, he has trained and led teams in complex high-angle and rescue environments both domestically and internationally. He holds technician-level credentials in multiple rescue disciplines, including SPRAT (Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians) Level 3. Joe serves as Director of the Adams County Fire Rescue Technical Rescue Team, Chairman of the Colorado State Rope Committee, and a member of Colorado Task Force 1. Currently serving as a Truck Captain, his instruction focuses on practical systems, decision-making under pressure, and building rescue capabilities that perform in real-world environments.

Mike Railsback

Mike Railsback is a full-time firefighter for the city of Thornton in Colorado. He is a senior member and a primary instructor for the department’s technical rescue team. Mike is also the training manager for the North Area Technical Rescue Team; organizing and conducting training for rescue technicians from 10 fire departments in the metro area north of Denver. Mike serves as a Rescue Squad Officer for Colorado Task Force 1, FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team, responding to incidents and natural disasters nationwide. He maintains a high level of training in multiple technical rescue disciplines including Structural Collapse, Confined Space, Trench Collapse, Heavy Vehicle Extrication and Swiftwater, but holds a primary focus on Rope Rescue. Mike is a SPRAT (Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians) certified level 3 technician and is also certified in level 3 cave rescue through the NCRC (National Cave Rescue Commission). Mike has been on the Elevated Safety team since 2019 teaching a wide variety of rescue and work at height classes.