Citizens and visitors to the City of Manitou Springs are proudly protected by the Manitou Springs Fire Department High Angle Rescue Team.
The High Angle Rescue Team was formally developed in 1998 after numerous incidents in and around the city had shown that there was a need for more specialized training and equipment to better provide for the safety of department members and the public it protected.

The City of Manitou Springs is small community situated in a valley at the foot of Pikes Peak. The permanent resident population is approximately 5000, but with the major tourist attractions that surround this great mountain, our small community summer population can reach 15,000.

Geographically the City of Manitou Springs requires the need for a High Angle Rescue Team. Deep canyons, major trailheads and homes on hillsides have kept the High and Rescue Team active. The team provides service to individuals that have encountered problems on cliff faces, steep screes, and trails. And has even safely removed patients with medical problems from their homes during wintertime storms.

The High Angle Rescue Team is composed of approximately 30 department members who receive initial certification through a 40-hour course. Total formal training hours provided by the department per year is currently at 80 hours. The courses are composed of modules that teach the following:

• Equipment knowledge
• Ropes and knots
• Anchor systems
• Basic climbing techniques
• Repelling
• Belaying
• One-on-one rescues
• Litter tie-ins
• Advantage systems
• High tension lines
• Scree and high angle uphauls and lowering
  

The City of Manitou Springs Fire Department currently maintains equipment to completely outfit a 10-member team when needed. All equipment is properly checked and maintained, and where required, logs are kept on the use of the equipment.