TECHNICAL RESCUE |
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A semi slams into a guard rail
and rolls onto its side. Firefighters
at Station 11 respond and extricate the victim. |
Extensive Extrication
Using highly specialized extrication equipment and techniques,
firefighters can spread, cut, push, pull, lift, roll and flap
heavy metal - freeing people trapped in or under dump trucks,
semis, school buses, tankers, cement trucks, rail cars, bull
dozers and other heavy equipment or farm equipment.
All MCFR firefighters take basic extrication classes when
becoming certified, but firefighters on the Technical Rescue
Team take additional classes.
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Rope Rescue
If radio tower workers, construction workers or window washers
get trapped on platforms, lifts, towers or buildings or if their
equipment fails and they need to be lowered, raised or
transferred from one place to another, MCFR's Technical Rescue
Team is ready to respond.
Technicians must know how to think fast, do math and understand
physics. They also have to learn how to tie dozens of knots;
know what knot to use and when to use it; know every facet of
their equipment and know how to find a good solid base to use as
an anchor.
MCFR's Technical Rescue Technicians take two additional 40-hour
classes as well as a 40-hour refresher class every year to
become certified in rope rescue. |
Technical Rescue Technician
Todd Muder climbs to the top
of a local water tower during this
training exercise to practice rope rescue techniques. |
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Firefighters map caves during
this training exercise |
Cave Rescue
Marion County is 1652 square miles, which is larger than the
state of Rhode Island. In addition to rolling hills and farms,
Marion County has dozens of established lime rock caves and
sinkholes.
Firefighters take an additional 40-hour class to become
certified in cave rescue. They've mapped the caves ahead of
time, marking access points, hazards and anchor points. |
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Confined Space Rescue
Imagine getting trapped in a manhole, a rain water drainage
pipe, a sewer pump station, a tar vat or an underground power
station. Think it's impossible? Think again. Just ask
firefighters trained in confined space rescue.
Firefighters often make entry into areas that are only two feet
wide and have only one entrance or one exit.
Wilderness Search and Rescue
MCFR's Technical Rescue Team has the manpower and equipment
capabilities to conduct wilderness search and rescues, combing
miles of dense vegetation in cooperation with other agencies.
Technicians take more than 100 hours of additional training to
become certified in this discipline, becoming excellent
navigators, map readers and survivalists.
When a wilderness search and rescue is initiated, technicians
are required to be self-sustaining for a minimum of 72-hours.
MCFR's Technical Rescue Technicians deployed to Citrus and
Hillsborough Counties to help law enforcement officials locate
missing children. MCFR crews headed up teams to search for
nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford of Homosassa and 13-year-old
Sarah Lunde of Ruskin, helping families bring closure to these
tragedies. |
Firefighters wear special gear,
including a supplied air
respirator with a hard wire
communications system, when
making entry into a confined space.
Lt. D. W. Cooper leads a search in Hillsborough County. |
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