REMS Overview and Operations

Written By: Lance Piatt

REMS Overview and Operations

REMS Overview and Operations; Rapid Extraction Module Support (REMS) teams provide fast, efficient, and life-saving rescues for injured firefighters. These teams work in hazardous, remote, and rugged terrain, where traditional evacuation methods fail. Their presence ensures that firefighters in danger receive immediate medical aid and rapid extraction.

Purpose and Function

REMS teams are pre-staged at active wildfires, prepared for immediate deployment. Their mission includes:

Providing an escape route for injured personnel
Extracting and transporting firefighters from dangerous areas
Delivering emergency medical care in the field
Operating in extreme conditions where standard rescues are not possible

Wildland firefighting presents unique challenges. REMS teams are trained to navigate steep slopes, dense smoke, and unstable terrain, ensuring rapid response in any situation.

Team Composition

Each REMS unit consists of medical and technical rescue specialists, including:

Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) – Trauma care and patient stabilization
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) – Advanced prehospital care
Paramedics – Severe medical emergency management, including Advanced Life Support (ALS)

Training and Qualifications

REMS personnel complete rigorous training to prepare for extreme conditions. Their qualifications include:

Wildland Fire Training – S-130/S-190, L-180, and fire shelter deployment drills
Physical Fitness Test – 3-mile hike with a 45-pound pack in 45 minutes
Technical Rope Rescue Training – High-angle, low-angle, and steep-slope rescues
Swiftwater and Vehicle Extrication Training – Flooded or trapped-vehicle scenarios

Essential Equipment

REMS teams rely on specialized, lightweight, and durable gear designed for quick deployment.

Rope Rescue

1,500 feet of rope (9.5mm–12.5mm) for steep-terrain rescues
Descent control devices – ATCs, totem racks, break bar racks
Carabiners, pulleys, prusiks, and webbing for secure extractions
Edge protection kits to prevent rope damage

Patient Transport

Collapsible basket stretcher/litter – Designed for hoist extractions
Roll-up rescue stretcher – Portable for tight spaces
Break-away backboard – Spinal stabilization
Sleeping bag for insulation – Prevents hypothermia
Litter wheel with repair kit – Smooth patient transport

Vehicles and Transportation

4×4 pickup truck – For equipment and personnel transport
Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) – Designed for moving patients over rough terrain

Medical Gear

Tourniquets and hemostatic dressings – Immediate bleeding control
Burn treatment and trauma supplies – Fire-related injuries
Pelvic binder – Stabilizes fractures
Advanced airway management tools – OPAs, NPAs, ETTs

Technical Rescue Tools

Pickets and sledgehammer – Anchor creation
GPS and flagging tape – Navigation and marking routes
Mechanical winch (optional) – Heavy load lifting

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Wildland web gear with fire shelter – Mandatory for REMS personnel
Hand tools – Clearing debris and gaining access

Operational Integration

REMS teams are part of the Incident Command System (ICS), ensuring seamless coordination with fire crews. Their responsibilities include:

Stationing within the Medical Branch for immediate deployment
Moving with fire crews to provide rapid response
Coordinating with air and ground transport for quick evacuations
Collaborating with suppression teams to clear safe access routes

By integrating within fire operations, REMS reduces response times and improves survival rates.

Ongoing Training

REMS teams maintain peak readiness through ongoing training and certifications, including:

RT-130 Wildland Fire Safety Training – Annual refresher
S-131 Wildland Firefighter Type 1 – Tactical decision-making
ICS Training – Ensures effective command structure coordination

Impact on Firefighter Safety

REMS teams enhance emergency response by:

Reducing extraction times by up to 75%
Improving survival rates through immediate treatment
Increasing fireground safety by ensuring rapid rescues

As wildfires become more severe, REMS teams play an essential role in firefighter protection. Their technical expertise and rapid response capabilities make them critical to modern wildland firefighting operations.

Final Thoughts

Wildland firefighting is one of the most demanding and dangerous professions. When an emergency occurs, REMS teams ensure injured firefighters are not left behind. Their training, expertise, and equipment allow them to execute high-risk rescues with precision and speed.

As wildfire intensity increases, so does the need for faster, more efficient extractions. REMS teams are more than rescuers—they are the last line of defense for those on the fireline.

How About – Training For Wildland Operations?

Peace on your Days

Lance

About The Author:

Lance Piatt

Beginning his career in the rescue and rigging world as a “blue collar” SAR member with Deschutes and Jefferson County teams. Lance Piatt owns and operates Red Ibex Solutions, a sales and marketing wheelhouse blending rope rigging education and exquisite imagery with equipment knowledge and understanding; housing Rigging Lab Academy and Rescue Response Gear… Lance is producing high-end video education, working with several experts and instructors to produce unique series of “how to videos” and courses for rope rigging: Such as; the first ever full-length rescue training DVD, 'Tower Rescue', released in fall of 2005. As well as a series of scenario-based rescues ranging from cave rescue to cliff rescue.