Burlington County Technical Rescue Task Force
What is the BCTRTF? Technical Rescue Workgroup formed many years ago to develop technical rescue capabilities in Burlington County Over the past eight years, numerous hours have been devoted to acquiring training for team members and acquiring specialized equipment and vehicles The current TRTF is made up of responders and equipment from four departments. They operate under the umbrella of OEM/BC Fire Coordinators. Evesham, Tabernacle, Bordentown, Mt. Laurel
BCTRTF as a Resource The BCTRTF is a resource for Burlington County and its' fire departments The TRTF is there to provide specialized equipment and trained personnel to assist in the mitigation of a technical rescue incident The TRTF is NOT there to take over an incident Ultimately, the TF provides resources which allows all responders to operate safer at technical rescue incidents since they are low frequency/high risk events
What about NJ-TF1? NJ-TF1 is a state resource requested through OEM NJ-TF1 has stated that they will take at least 60 minutes to respond, often their initial response will be with a go team The BCTRTF was developed to fill that void in response time and/or to provide a local resource when NJ-TF1 is not needed NJ-TF1 has provided training to many of our team members and much of the equipment has been funded through NJ Homeland Security
How can we help you? The TRTF has capabilities in 4 disciplines High and Low Angle Rope Rescue Confined Space Rescue Collapse Rescue Trench Rescue The team has personnel and equipment available to assist in every type of rescue listed above We are also available for other complex or prolonged rescue incidents
Possible TRTF Responses High-angle or rooftop patient removal Construction accidents Below-grade rescues Confined space rescue Rescues requiring hardline communications or supplied breathing air Farm/industrial accidents Entrapment under heavy equipment Vehicles into buildings Fire burnouts of buildings (shoring prior to investigation) Gas explosions Vacant dwelling collapses or fires Search via Search Cam Moving large objects for patient extrication Consultation
Training Minimum training is in excess of 200 hours; many of our members have the training as noted above plus an additional 140 hours of training delivered by NJ-TF1 at Lakehurst The training received from NJ-TF1 also makes members of our team RUST eligible for out of county deployments (similar to the UASI program in Northern NJ)
TRTF Activation The local incident commander can request the TRTF through Central Communications Please provide Central with the type of technical rescue encountered. This will ensure that the team responds with the appropriate equipment Consultations with a team leader can also be requested. This can be done via telephone, radio, or a scaled response from team leaders
Can I get a scaled response? As eluded to previously, ICs can request a scaled response A Foward Team response. TRTF team leaders will respond and consult with the IC. They can assist local resources in mitigating an incident or work with the IC to determine if a scaled or full team response is necessary A specific piece of equipment (i.e. search camera) can be requested. This equipment will usually respond with the go team and a member to operate the equipment. Similar to current HazMat deployment (rep or full team deployment)
Proactive / Reactive Deployment of the team does take time (average 15 minute spoolup, plus travel time) Incident Commanders are encouraged to call for the team early if there is potential for use. We can always be placed in staging Departments can add the TRTF to their grids if they desire so that we are automatically dispatched on certain types of incidents
Some of the equipment carried. Zistos Search Camera and SearchCam Camera 14 foot telescoping pole with articulating head and color camera capabilities (water resistant) Remote listening capabilities as well Can access and inspect remote areas, collapses, etc.
Some of the equipment carried. Paratech Struts/Shoring System The BCTRTF carries a heavy compliment of mechanical shoring equipment for vertical, horizontal and raker shoring Paratech shoring is a quick and effective way to secure an area to effect a rescue or conduct prolonged search operations
Some of the equipment carried. Wood Shoring Capabilities The BCTRTF carries equipment to allow for a transition from the rescue strut shoring system to a wood system The wood shores can be left in place for a prolonged period of time until the building owner can mitigate the hazard
Some of the equipment carried. Trench Rescue Capabilities The BCTRTF carries a full compliment of trench rescue, including shoring panels, in a box truck
TR22/1551 Shoring Panels Concrete Chain Saw Welder/Generator Plasma Cutter Rescue Struts Hilti Breaking Equipment Band Saw Framing Nailers Semi-solid dewatering pump
Dispatched Incidents 07/13/20011, High Angle Rescue, Pemberton Township 02/11/2011, Rope Rescue, Woodland Township 12/31/2011, Confined Space Rescue, Pemberton Township 12/26/2012, Confined Space Rescue, Mount Laurel Township 02/21/2013, High Angle Rescue, Burlington Township 06/08/20013, Confined Space Rescue, Florence Township 08/19/2013, Structural Collapse, Hainesport Township 09/11/2013, High Angle Rescue, Moorestown Township 09/19/2013, Structural Collapse Standby, Mercer County 01/11/2014, Structural Collapse, Burlington City 01/13/2014, High Angle Rescue, Florence Township 02/02/2014, Rope Rescue/Water Rescue, Woodland Township
Questions