Wasatch Technical Rescue LLC

End of day 1 for Swiftwater Rescue Technician course. We are stoked to have is at the helm leading this week and half long Swiftwater/Surface Water Rescue Technician course for this year’s Heavy Rescue Technician School 2026 for the . These students have literally been going hard at it since the end of March. This is their last course and we are happy to help provide some instructors for this awesome group of individuals.

You’ve been asking about it, so it’s finally time to introduce the guy who started it all. Meet the Founder and Owner of Wasatch Technical Rescue: Josh. 🧗‍♂️
Josh built WTR to solve a massive problem. He saw that Utah’s first responders were severely lacking access to advanced technical rescue training. They were being forced to travel out of state or pay exorbitant fees to bring outside providers in. Josh believed that world-class, specialized instruction should be accessible, high-quality, and affordable right here at home. So, he built it.
He brings a lifetime of experience to that mission. With 25 years as a climber, two decades in technical rescue, and an 18-year career in Fire/EMS, Josh has literally helped write the standard for rescue in Utah. He has sat on UFRA committees developing state certification tests for rope, swiftwater, and ice rescue, and has spent a decade as an adjunct instructor and certification tester.
His reach goes beyond WTR. He has spent years training the Utah County Special Response Team (SRT) and is an instructor for the internationally recognized National Rescue & Response Institute.
Oh, and remember our newest puppy recruit, Eddy? Josh is her official handler! They are currently training together with Great Basin K9 to certify Eddy as a cadaver dog. 🐕‍🦺
Whether he’s on the rock, in the water, or training the next generation of responders, Josh’s dedication to the craft is what drives WTR forward.

And that’s a wrap on our April rope rescue technician course. Thanks to and for hosting the course and to all the participants, who made this course epic!

We are officially interrupting our “Meet the Team” series for a very important, extremely cute announcement. 🚨🐶
Meet Eddy, the newest (and definitely the youngest) recruit at Wasatch Technical Rescue!
At just 11 weeks old, this little German Shorthaired Pointer is stepping into her role as our official traveling partner. While her knot-tying skills are currently nonexistent and she isn’t quite cleared for high-angle operations yet, she is already a master at tactical naps, zooming around base camp, and boosting team morale.
Eddy will be attending all of our upcoming trainings. So, if you’re joining us for a course soon, be prepared for mandatory belly-rub breaks and some top-tier puppy energy.
Welcome to the crew, Eddy! 🐾

It’s a feeling no first responder ever wants to experience: standing on the sidelines, unable to act.
For Trent Hutchings, his career trajectory changed on a riverbank during his rookie year. A car was in the water, and because he lacked the specific training, he had to sit back and watch. He hated the feeling of being “useless” so much that he made a vow to never be in that position again.
That drive transformed him. Today, Trent is a 9-year veteran, an Engineer/Paramedic, and a Heavy Rescue Technician. He turned that early frustration into an obsession with technical mastery—specializing in ropes, hazmat, and the complex mechanics of heavy rescue.
He brings that same curiosity to his off-time, where he admits to “nerding out” on everything from earth systems to outer space. 🌌👨‍🚀
From the guy on the bank to the guy leading the rescue—Trent is proof that the best training often comes from the strongest motivation.

Another incredible Winter Fire School in the books! 🚒☀️
We were proud to have several members of the Wasatch Technical Rescue team down in St. George representing as adjunct instructors for .
At WTR, we pride ourselves on versatility. Our instructors aren’t just technical rescue specialists; they are well-rounded fire service professionals dedicated to high-quality training across all disciplines. It was an honor to share knowledge and train alongside Utah’s finest this week.
Huge thank you to UFRA for organizing a massive week of learning and for everything you do to elevate the fire profession in our state. We are already looking forward to next year!