The Rural Rescue Operations Group (GORA) of the Puente Alto Fire Department is a team specialized in the search and rescue of injured individuals in rural areas, such as hills or mountains. We are the first institution in the region to be accredited in this specialty and the second in the country, which allows us to provide support in every city nationwide.
In 2025, the Rural Rescue Operations Group consolidated its role as a unit specialized in search, rescue, and emergency response operations in hard-to-reach environments, reaffirming its commitment to constant preparedness, timely response, and service to the community.
Ongoing Training and Education
True to the belief that operational excellence is built in the field, the team developed a systematic program of theoretical and practical training throughout the year:
• Refresher courses on the Incident Command System (ICS).
• Vertical rescue and rock climbing drills.
• Rope maneuvers in natural and simulated scenarios.
• Workshops on orientation, land navigation, and search and rescue in rugged terrain.
• Integrated exercises in teamwork and leadership under high-pressure situations.
In addition, multiple training field trips were conducted, strengthening physical endurance, decision-making in complex environments, and operational coordination under demanding technical standards.
Deployments and Emergency Response
In 2025, GORA was deployed on several occasions to support operations in rural, foothill, and hard-to-reach areas within its jurisdiction, in collaboration with other units.
These operations included:
• Searches for missing persons in hilly and ravine areas.
• High-altitude rescues and evacuations in rugged terrain.
• Support in incidents involving the risk of falling or becoming trapped in natural areas.
• Coordinated work with other specialized units and emergency agencies.
Each deployment tested the team’s preparedness, highlighting the discipline, professionalism, and dedication to service of its members.
Inter-institutional coordination and regional planning
During the year, GORA also actively participated in the working group convened by the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED), alongside other institutions in the civil protection system, with the aim of updating the response plan for rural emergencies in the Metropolitan Region.
This initiative allowed the group to contribute its operational experience in the field, strengthen inter-institutional coordination mechanisms, review activation protocols, and advance the standardization of procedures to address complex scenarios in a more efficient, safe, and coordinated manner.
Collaborative Work and Institutional Integration
The year was also marked by opportunities for collaboration with other units and agencies, strengthening operational networks and promoting common standards for wilderness rescue operations.
Joint training exercises, the exchange of technical expertise, and participation in educational activities contributed to the group’s overall growth.
Ongoing Commitment
2025 was a year of consolidation, technical growth, and personal development for GORA.
Every deployment, every activation, and every training session reflected a shared conviction:
Constant preparation is the foundation for serving better when it is needed most.
GORA continues to look toward the future with the same determination that has characterized it, keeping operational excellence and strength in unity as its guiding principles.
