Special Operations

Wildland

The Fire District has been a cooperating agency for the Arizona State Land Department since its inception as a paid department in 1983. Our Wildland program has remained active and the District has maintained a sizable compliment of specialized apparatus. We currently maintain a roster of 25-30 members which includes Engine Bosses, a Strike Team Leader, and two Division Supervisors.

The Fire District is a member of the Central Arizona Wildland Response Team (CAWRT). The CAWRT is a consortium of over 20 local fire agencies in central Arizona that participate in state and nationwide wildland fire response. CAWRT agencies are cooperators with the Arizona State Forestry Division and work in the Region 3 Southwest Geographic area. CAWRT is divided between two Wildland Resource Groups (WRG) of about 15 WRG’s statewide to meet Arizona Forestry resource coordination and mobilization needs.

Both CAWRT WRG’s have their own webpage which can be reached by clicking on the CAWRTEAST or CAWRTWEST links.

The CAWRT works closely with five state and federal land management agencies, the Arizona State Forestry Division, Tonto National Forest, Prescott National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and also maintains a relationship with the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management. All members strive to promote increased fire fighter safety, better communications among local, state and federal partners, and improved training opportunities all to provide highly capable wildland fire resources.

Technical Rescue Team

The Fire District established a Technical Rescue Team (TRT) in 1999 to enhance service delivery through the incorporation of specialized rescue abilities. The provision of specialized training and equipment enabled the organization to mitigate perplex incidents and to rescue persons who encountered uncommon circumstances or environments. Such situations include but are not limited to Swift Water Rescues, Trench Collapse Rescues, Technical Rope Rescues, Building Collapse Rescues, and Confined Space Rescues. These types of incidents pose substantial hazards for both the victims and rescuers. The Fire District strives to remain organizationally competent to overcome the challenges associated with these and other types of specialized rescue incidents.

Mission

The mission of the TRT is to apply specialized training, technology, equipment, and procedures to mitigate life threatening emergencies where special hazards exist. Rescues requiring the deployment of the TRT are considered “High Risk, Low Frequency” events.

Goal

The goal of the TRT is to provide technical rescue operations within the Fire District, as well as to serve as a resource to surrounding area jurisdictions. Objectively the team strives to achieve value added service as an “all risk provider” of public safety services.

Scope of Practice

All TRT members are trained to perform at the Rescue Technician level. Prior to appointment to the TRT each member completes a comprehensive, competency based 200 hour training program that is certified by the Arizona Center for Fire Service Excellence (AZCFSE), previously the Arizona Office of State Fire Marshal.

Poisonous Reptile Removal

If you encounter a snake, take the following steps to ensure your safety:

If you are in an undeveloped area, such as the desert or a park, leave snakes alone. Restrain your pet until the snake moves on. Warn others in the area.

If the snake is in a residential area, observe the reptile at a distance (at least 6′ feet). Do NOT try to kill or capture the snake yourself.

If you or your animal encounter a snake, leave it alone and allow it to make its way back into the desert.

If the snake is in your yard, and you are not comfortable waiting for it to return to its normal habitat please call Non-Emergency Dispatch at (480) 644-2400.

If the snake is located inside your home, your garage, or at the entrance to your home please stay away from the snake (at least 6′ feet) and call Non-Emergency Dispatch at (480) 644-2400. Be sure to watch the snake’s movement, the snake cannot be relocated if it cannot be found.

If you or someone else is bitten by a snake, call 9-1-1 and seek medical attention immediately.

Bees

Call for emergency services only when emergency medical services are needed. If someone has been stung by many bees at once or has an allergic reaction to a bee sting, call 9-1-1. Fire trucks are equipped with a foam that can be sprayed on the bees to drown them. DO NOT call for emergency services to remove bee colonies or hives. If you want bees removed, look in the Yellow Pages under “bee removal” or “beekeepers”.

Bee stings should be taken seriously, stings can be life threatening. If you or a family member has been stung, immediately contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 to determine if the sting can be managed at home or needs medical attention. Parents, take a moment to tell your children what to do if there are bees in the area.