SPECIALIZED TEAMS
AND
EMERGENCY SERVICES
TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM (TRT)
The technical rescue team currently has 15 members who specialize in: rope rescue, swift water rescue, trench rescue, confined space rescue, vehicle extrication, and structural collapse. Team members participate in approximately 200 hours of training per year with several members that are also trained in Hazardous Materials and Dive Rescue. All shift personnel have been trained in Rope Rescue I and II and awareness level in Trench and Confined Space. They will be trained to Operations level this year. In Oct. 2009 Bullhead City Fire will take delivery of our first Heavy Rescue. The department was able to obtain this vehicle through funding from Assistance to Firefighter Grants.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE TEAM (HAZMAT)
The Bullhead City Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team is part of the Mohave County Hazmat Regional Response Unit. The unit covers all areas of Mohave County, incorporated and unincorporated, with technician level trained personnel and enhanced by specially trained local operational personnel. The unit responds to a variety of hazardous chemical, biological and unknown substance calls, from simple odor investigations to potential weapons of mass destruction events. Team members responded to 82 local calls in 2008.
The Bullhead Hazmat Team is headed by Assistant Fire Chief Joe Anderson. The ten members are actively involved in hazardous materials training, practicing at least monthly. Training includes maintaining specialized skills and testing operational personnel to affirm or enhance their level of preparedness and to keep them aware of the dangers of the materials they encounter daily. Training also includes anti-terrorism preparedness for all response personnel.
DIVE TEAM
The Bullhead City Fire Department has recognized the tremendous growth in awareness of the need to effectively respond to water emergencies. Our community demands preparedness from their public safety officials. Bullhead City Fire Department Dive/Rescue Teams approach to aquatic preparedness ensures public safety officials respond effectively to water-incident scenes. We combine state of the art knowledge of rescue and recovery, a network of experienced professionals who also work in the field and field exercises with operational standards that ensure sustainable performance. This approach supports national preparedness goals and provides training tailored to enhance our departmental operations. The Bullhead City Fire Department Dive Team is comprised of ten members and is led by Engineer Jimmy Smith.
BOAT OPERATIONS
The Bullhead City Fire Department Boat Operations Division consists of 22 certified boat operators and two watercraft. We have a 23 foot Jetcraft and a 26 foot Munson landing craft equipped with a 500 gallon per minute fire pump. Both watercraft are equipped with a Hamilton jet drive and are capable of operating in shallow water. The watercraft respond to marine emergencies including dive rescue operations, boat and personal watercraft accidents, boat and shore line fires, and medical emergencies. The boat operations division is headed by Captain Rob Woodford.
BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC
Every Tuesday Morning at Fire Station One, two volunteer nurses are on hand to take blood pressure readings from 9:00 am until Noon. This service is offered to the public at no charge. We really appreciate these wonderful volunteers and their dedication to public service. This photo shows Fire Chief Rick Southey and volunteer Joeen Griffin taking a pressure reading.
BEE ERADICATION
Bullhead Firefighters are trained to eradicate aggressive bee swarms using high pressure foam. Citizens are encouraged to contact a beekeeper or an exterminator to have beehives removed, but if the bees are aggressive and agitated, and there is a danger that the bees might attack and sting, the fire department will respond and attempt to foam the swarm.
DEPARTMENT CHAPLAINS
Bullhead City Fire Department has two volunteer Chaplains on staff. Ken Kreidel and Pat Nolan have successfully completed training courses in Basic Chaplaincy, Critical Incident Stress Management, and NIMS Incident Command. The chaplains are on call 24-hours a day to respond to fires, accidents and any other incidents where their support and assistance is needed to comfort and help victims and family members through difficult situations.
Chaplain Ken Kreidel Chaplain Pat Nolan
Copyright © Bullhead City Fire Department. All rights reserved.