The Technical Rescue contingency for Tampa Fire Rescue was separated from the Hazardous Materials Unit and now operates from Truck #1 (see picture below). The team separated from from the Hazardous Materials Unit due to the complexity and intense training required for not only the Hazardous Materials Technicians but also the Technical Rescue Specialists.
The team's responsibilities consist of rescuing entrapped victims requiring:
- Auto Extrication
- Confined Space Rescue
- Vertical Rope Rescue
- Structural Collapse
- Urban Search and Rescue
In addition to the rescue duties, the team operates as the Truck Company located at Fire Station #1. Currently the team responds with a 2007 Pierce 100-foot Tiller truck (see picture above) and a 2005 Pierce Enforcer custom-built heavy rescue vehicle that carries most of the specialized rescue tools. The training required for the variety of rescues the company may be called upon to assist with becomes very complex and intense. The Technical Rescue members have completed the National Fire Protection Association Technician Level training requirements for vertical rope rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue and structural collapse.