Hazardous Materials & Special Operations Division
Our Special Operations
Division is responsible for many of the issues that help make up the diverse
response capabilities that the Bossier City Fire Department provides for the
public. This division encompasses hazardous materials spill response, high angle
and confined space rescue, public safety diving, swift water rescue, and
disaster response. Our personnel have received very specialized training from
approved agencies using the National Fire Protection Association and
Occupational Safety and Health Administration as guidelines. The Special
Operations Rescue Team (SORT) has been under development over the last several
years and is a result of capability and needs-based assessments performed
within the division.
The following descriptions
list a few examples of the services provided.
Hazardous Materials Response Team
Hazardous materials are
found in every jurisdiction, community, workplace, and household. In addition
to their necessary beneficial uses, many of these materials pose considerable
risks to the public and to the environment when spilled or used improperly.
Our Haz Mat personnel are
prepared to respond to incidents involving a release of hazardous materials in
areas such as treatment plants, and chemical distribution centers, as well as
tanker trucks and railcars that transport chemicals through our community.
Emergency response pre-plans have also been developed for several target hazard
facilities in our area, and we are continually updating this information.
Our Haz Mat Response trailer is centrally located in the
city and carries a wide variety of response equipment including chemical
protective clothing and decontamination supplies. Our team also employs the use
of instruments with advanced software
and multi-sensor technology, which are capable of identifying many unknown
toxic industrial chemicals as well as chemical warfare agents. Many of our Haz
Mat Technicians have also received training provided by The Department of
Homeland Security's Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, AL
regarding WMD (weapons of mass destruction) incidents. All of these tools are
an important part of our responsibility to address situations involving
hazardous materials safely and effectively.
Technical Rescue Team
Bossier City's technical rope rescue team has responded on
numerous occasions and performed successful rescues in situations involving
water towers, wells, and below ground lift stations. These are highly technical
skills that require very specialized equipment, and we are committed to maintaining
the integrity of these response capabilities.
We are also aware that no
community is immune from the destructive forces of nature. Severe storms and
tornadoes have the potential to cause damage in almost any community.
Our technical rescue personnel
are equipped to respond to these types of events using heavy rescue equipment
such as power saws, hydraulic tools, pneumatic shoring devices, electric
winches, and search cameras. These tools, along with many techniques used by
FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Teams allow us to effectively conduct
advanced operations in areas where full or partial collapse of structures may
have occurred.
Rescue 1,our heavy rescue
vehicle, is located at the central fire station, and carries a full compliment
of tools, rescue equipment, and hardware for these special situations.
Currently, 60 of our
members have received technical rescue training in varying degrees including
Rope Rescue I, Rescue II/Confined Space Rescue Technician, and Trench &
Structure Collapse Technician. Our team members attend technical rescue
refresher training annually and are tested to meet minimum standards.
Dive Team
The Red
River provides us with many unique opportunities for recreation,
however we must also be aware of the hazards associated with these activities.
Our water response team uses
the latest technology in public safety diving equipment, and our training
certifications include; Swift Water Rescue, Rapid Deployment Search and
Rescue/Recovery Diving, Full Face Mask Diving, Drysuit Diving, and Blackwater
Search Ops. Dive Team members also attend regularly scheduled refresher
training quarterly to learn new techniques and keep skills sharp.
Our Dive/Rescue Boat is a center console Sea Ark with side imaging
sonar capabilities and is deployed out of the water response facility located
at the Arthur Ray Teague boat launch on the Red River.
Thank you for your interest,
and we hope this information helps you to better understand our commitment to
serve the community in which we live.
