A special operations team represents a group of Fire Department personnel that in addition to training normally required of a firefighter, elects to diversify and train to meet the challenges and dangers of specific rescue environments.

Special operations teams are coordinated by the Special Operations Officer Captain Shane Williams. Current special operations teams include the Water Rescue Team, Search and Rescue Team and Hazardous Materials Response Team.

Water Rescue Team

To join the Water Rescue Team requires the applicant to be certified as a scuba diver from one of the major certifications and tested for competency by the Water Rescue Team instructors. Successful candidates to the team begin training in water rescue and diving techniques. Skills that must be mastered are zero visibility diving, grid search, as well as water rescue skills.

The Water Rescue Team members are trained and capable of extreme condition diving. Ice diving is possible using insulated dry suits and team members with advanced training to perform these functions when necessary.

Hazardous Materials Response Team

The Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team is currently assigned to Station 5. Plans are also being developed to add two additional Haz-Mat satellite stations. The last several years have seen an era where Haz-Mat training has been the most intensive on the Department.

In addition to emergency response to incidents, the Hazardous Materials Team responds to structure fires where there are known hazardous materials indicated by placarding. They are often asked to assist other fire companies with inspections where target hazards have been identified.

A substantial amount of training is done on various monitoring and detection equipment used on incidents. The Hazardous Materials Response Team is the most technically demanding assignment in the Department. Equipped with on-board computers, cellular phones and fax machines, extensive resource library, various chemical suits, and support equipment; the Hazardous Materials Response Team's best resource is the continual training of its personnel.

Search and Rescue Team

The Fire Department has been preparing a select group of personnel to conduct special search and rescue operations.  This includes training in various rescue situations including low- and high-angle, swift water, urban search and rescue, confined spaces and a variety of special situations.