Brevard County Fire Rescue announces state certified Technical Rescue Team to better serve residents and visitors.

A state certified Technical Rescue Team (TRT) is a multi-disciplined unit capable of conducting search and rescue in a structural collapse, rope rescue, vehicle and machinery extrication, confined space operations, trench rescue, excavation rescue, and water rescue operations. The team is also disciplined in large animal rescue. In addition to being a first on-scene Brevard County asset, the team will also be available to lend assistance statewide when requested. 

In early November, Brevard County Fire Rescue underwent assessment and evaluation by representatives from the State of Florida. During the evaluation process, the department was graded on three specific areas; personnel readiness, logistical readiness, and management readiness.  Out of a maximum of 100 points, Brevard County Fire Rescue received an evaluation score of 96, passing the evaluation and earning the designation of a State approved Type I Technical Rescue Team.

The team is comprised of members from Station 48, centrally located in West Viera. Members from this station also make up the County’s on-call hazardous materials team, and will continue to serve the community in this capacity. The team consists of eight members, ready to respond immediately, and can be scaled up to support larger incidents. Each member is required to complete a minimum of 360 hours of training to be considered for the team. “It’s an honor for Brevard County Fire Rescue to provide this service to our community. I am extremely proud of our hard working men and woman for achieving this goal and for strengthening the capability of our all hazard fire department,” explains Fire Chief Patrick Voltaire.