VIDEO/PHOTOS: Since the Portland Aerial Tram at OHSU opened in 2007, there has never been a need for a rescue from more than 100 feet up. But that doesnโt stop emergency crews from training for just such an event. On Sunday, Portland Fire & Rescue held a mock rescue from the tram, as โpassengersโ โ actually employees of Portland Tramway โ were fastened to a rope and lowered from the tram car to the ground. Ray Gardner, the general manager of Portland Tramway, told KOIN 6 News โitโs a good experienceโ for all their new employees to be โrescuedโ in this exercise.
โWeโve never needed to use it, but weโre trained and ready in case we ever do,โ Gardner said. PF&R Lt. Rick Graves said they do this simulated rope rescue operation once every year in cooperation with PBOT and Portland Tramwayโs parent company, Doppelmayr USA. โPractice makes you better. This is a wonderful opportunity. We hope we never have to perform this in a real, actual scenario. Weโre ready to. This just allows everybody to be trained up,โ Graves said.
