OUR MISSION:

To respond to natural and man-made disasters; providing damage assessment, search and rescue, medical support, and assistance with efforts to restore critical infrastructure in support of Emergency Operations to the affected community.

Gainesville Fire Rescue provides this service to our community with specialized assistance coming from members of our local Technical Rescue Team (TRT). Additionally, as a partner agency in one of the State sponsored Urban Search and Rescue Teams, our TRT members also serve as in the North Central Florida Disaster Task Force ~ Task Force Eight ( FL TF 8).

Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) involves determining the location, implementing rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause of victims being trapped, but victims may also be trapped due to transportation accidents and collapsed trenches. Urban Search and Rescue is considered a "multi-hazard" discipline, as it may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, storms and tornadoes, floods, sink holes, trench cave in, confined space rescue, industrial accidents, transportation accidents, terrorist activities, and hazardous materials releases.

Our team members have been trained to the Technician level in each of the 5 core rescue disciplines identified in NFPA 1670 and many have undergone additional training to support large scale Rescue Operations.

We are in the process of upgrading our Team capabilities to include Water Rescue, Wilderness Rescue and adding Canine search assets to assist us with incidents involving missing persons and victims sustaining injuries in a remote rural environment.

If you would like to find out more about our program, have a site available for training, or wish to assist us with a donation for additional equipment and/or training in support of our community, please contact Special Operations Chief Don Sessions.