FY2016 Arlington Fire Department Annual Report FY 2016 | Page 12
Fire Rescue Division
The Fire Rescue Division is the largest division in AFD and is comprised of resources
typically associated with fire department emergency service delivery
and operations. There are 306 personnel assigned to the Fire Rescue
Division, with a complement of 102 assigned to each of three shifts,
designated A, B, and C. Each shift works on a rotating schedule of
24-hours on, 48-hours off at 17 fire stations and is commanded by a
Shift Commander who manages two additional Deputy or Battalion
Chiefs who, in turn, manage day-to-day activities, respond to major
incidents, and work to facilitate concurrent activities to support the
goals and objectives of the organization.
Within Fire Rescue, the
Special Operations (Spec
Ops) Section consists of
several specialized
response teams including
Hazardous Materials
Response Team (HMRT),
Swift Water Rescue/Dive
Team (SWRDT), Technical
Rescue Team (TRT), two Gas Well Response Teams, a
TIFMAS Team (Wildland Fire Fighters) and in FY16, a
new Wilderness Rescue program/team assigned to Station 17 on the north side of the city near
the Trinity River.
Spec Ops teams are staffed with highly motivated firefighters who participate in rigorous training
and are equipped with specialized detection, mitigation, and rescue equipment. These teams are
the Department’s lead response to non-routine, emergency incidents. In FY16 Spec Ops members
engaged in over 8,800 hours of specialized training in addition to their regular fire and Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) training. The teams work under a concept of interdependency, supporting
each other when responding to extremely hazardous emergencies.
AFD Spec Ops teams are prepared to respond to incidents involving:
Hazardous Materials
Incidents High Angle/Rope
Rescue
Homeland Security
Threats Trench Rescue
Structural Collapse
Natural Gas Well
Emergencies
Wilderness Rescue
Swift Water/Flooding
Dive Rescue and
Recovery
DUTY
/
HONOR
/
COMPASSION
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EXCELLENCE