SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM

Brevard County Fire Rescue operates 1 of 28, Type 2, State of Florida Specialized Response Teams and, the only State recognized Specialized Response Team in Brevard County. We are listed with the State as Type 2 hazardous material/WMD team and a Type 2 Light Rescue Team through the FRDSTF. The primary team consists of 3, 24 hour shifts of 8 members per shift, or a total of 24 personnel. As a Department, we also have 35 other department members certified as Hazardous Material Technicians. We are currently working towards becoming a Type 3 USAR team and a Florida Task Force. This should occur with the opening of the second Special Operations Station, sometime in the next two years.

Qualifications for basic team membership include:

• Hazardous Materials Technician
• Confined Space Rescue
• Trench Rescue
• Rope Rescue

BCFR training on confined space	SRT trains on Hazardous Material Response

All members must be certified in the above disciplines to be considered for team membership.
Additionally, team members received advanced training in:

• Chemical operation and biological response
• Emergency response to terrorism bombing
• Emergency response to nuclear emergencies
• Advanced life support for Hazardous Materials

SRT trains on securing a gas leak	SRT trains on proper decon procedures

The team is capable of providing emergency response and mitigation to:

• Light Standard Collapse
• Terrorism event
• Heavy Vehicle Extrication
• Trench Rescue
• Hazardous Material Events
• Confined Space Rescue
• Rope Rescue

The team provides the above service both county-wide and on a regional basis as part of the
State of Florida response plan to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Members of the BCFR Specialized Response Team successfully rescue two victims of a trench collapse

As part of being a state recognized response team, the county was awarded a state grant. This grant
provided over $188,000 worth of equipment so our comprehensive team could better manage a
terrorism/weapons of mass destruction even. This grant was a component of the Department of
Justice State and local domestic preparedness program.

Station 47 is located in Viera with close access to I-95 and US Highway 1. The Specialized Response Team can move quickly throughout Brevard County, including the beaches. The team's mobile equipment is made up of:
	A 2004 American LaFrance 1250gpm, Class A Pumper with advanced life support ALS equipment, light to medium vehicle extrication equipment
A 2002 Rescue (Ambulance) with Advanced Life Support equipment, plus specialty medication for bio-terrorism/chemical exposure treatment.