I realize this was an old thread, but I'll throw this out there for some knowledge for you guys. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has set forth standards regarding rope rescues along with everything else fire-related. Those standards are ones that all fire departments (both paid and volly) are supposed to abide by. Unless it's changed in the last few years (which I don't believe it has), the standard dealing with rope rescues dictated that any and all rope, harnesses and other associated gear that is used in any rescue must be NEW and unused. Which means that they are supposed to pull out new gear each time and not re-use gear from the last rescue. Once gear is used in a rescue, by the NFPA, it can be used for training purposes but no longer is it supposed to be used for an actual rescue.
Granted, a simple belay of a litter as it's being passed hand-to-hand down a trail isn't exactly high-angle, but even that requires a couple hundred dollars in gear. Imagine a true high-angle rescue (getting climbers down from the middle of a multi-pitch route) and all of the gear needed for that and the cost for any small fire department can be crippling.
So, yes, it would be a good idea to get familiar with the locals there and anywhere else that you might climb on a regular basis. Chances are, they are all grossly under-equipped and lacking in training of even basic stuff. Hell, on my old department back home I doubt there were more than a handful of people out of the 40-50 on the roster that could tie a bowline, and even fewer that could tie a figure 8 as well.....
