MCFR employs a variety of specialized technical rescue teams to meet the unique needs that can arise during rescue operations

Extensive Extrication

Using highly specialized extrication equipment and techniques, firefighters can spread, cut, push, pull, lift, roll and flap heavy metal, freeing people trapped in or under dump trucks, semis, school buses, tankers, cement trucks, rail cars, bull dozers and other heavy equipment or farm equipment.

All MCFR firefighters take basic extrication classes when becoming certified, but firefighters on the Technical Rescue Team take additional classes to become specialized in rope, cave, confined space, wilderness and other rescue techniques.

Rope Rescue

Members of MCFR's Technical Rescue Team must know how to think fast and understand physics and mathematics. MCFR's Technical Rescue Technicians take two additional 40-hour classes as well as a 40-hour refresher class every year to become certified in rope rescue.

During this training they learn every facet of specialized rope and repelling equipment, and become experts in how to tie dozens of knots and identifying anchor points in what are often stressful, emergency situations where minutes and seconds matter.

Cave Rescue

Marion County is 1,652 square miles, which is larger than the state of Rhode Island. In addition to rolling hills and farms, Marion County has dozens of established lime rock caves and sinkholes. Firefighters take an additional 40-hour class to become certified in cave rescue. They have mapped many caves ahead of time, marking access points, hazards and anchor points.

Confined Space Rescue

Imagine getting trapped in a manhole, a rain water drainage pipe, a sewer pump station, a tar vat or an underground power station. Think it's impossible? Think again. Just ask firefighters trained in confined space rescue. Firefighters often make entry into areas that are only two feet wide and have only one entrance or one exit.

Wilderness Search and Rescue

MCFR's Technical Rescue Team has the manpower and equipment capabilities to conduct wilderness search and rescues, combing miles of dense vegetation in cooperation with other agencies. Technicians take more than 100 hours of additional training to become certified in this discipline, which requires them to be excellent navigators, skilled map-readers and survivalists.

When a wilderness search and rescue is initiated, technicians are required to be self-sustaining for a minimum of 72 hours. MCFR's Technical Rescue Technicians are often deployed to Citrus and Hillsborough Counties to help law enforcement officials in these areas locate missing children.