FY2010 Arlington Fire Department Annual Report FY 2010 | Page 26
The Special Operations (Special Ops) Section
consists of the Hazardous Materials Response Team,
the Dive/Swift Water Rescue Team and the Technical
Rescue Team. The teams work under a concept of
―interdependency,‖ supporting each other in
extremely hazardous emergencies. Special Ops
teams are equipped with the latest in technical
equipment and hardware. Team members have
completed difficult and rigorous training in order to be
the Department‘s lead response to non-routine,
emergency incidents. To ensure competence,
members of the Special Ops Team undergo
over 8,800 additional hours of specialized
training a year.
Class Type
The Hazardous Materials Response Team is
responsible for responding to and mitigating a
wide range of emergency incidents, from
overturned tanker trucks to the accidental
release of volatile chemicals to investigation of
suspicious substances.
Staff Training Hours
Confined Space
224
Dive Rescue
899
Hazmat
4,763
High Angle Rescue
1,427
Low Angle Rescue
62
Swift Water
62
1,381
Trench Rescue
The Arlington Fire Department‘s Dive Rescue
Team is a group of specially trained firefighters who can respond to any water-related incident in
the City of Arlington. In addition to conducting dive rescues and dive recoveries, the team
mitigates swift water incidents and assists on trench rescues. The Dive Rescue Team also
conducts pool safety programs for the community and performs vessel safety checks at Lake
Arlington. In Fiscal Year 2010, nine members attained Advanced Diver certification bringing them
to >95% Diver Certified at the Dive Station.
The Technical Rescue Team is trained to respond
to emergencies involving persons trapped in
challenging environments. Examples include
maintenance personnel trapped on scaffolding
outside high-rise buildings, hikers who have fallen
into ravines on nature trails, and workers trapped
by trench collapses. A notable incident in FY 2010
required the rescue of two injured workers who
slipped down the ice-covered roof of the Cowboys
Stadium, landing on a small rim at the base of the
dome.
Working Together to Make Arlington Better.
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