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| Specialty Teams |
Underwater Search and Recovery Team
The Underwater Search And Recovery Team was founded in 1990. At this time it was determined that there was a need for such a team and the leg work was put into play to get the necessary training and equipment.
Our Underwater Search and Recovery Team has a total of about 22 members. All members are trained to at least the advanced level with some trained to the rescue and dive masters level. They have all been trained in Rescue, Crime Scene, Vehicle Recovery, Body Recovery, Surface Supplied Air, and Haz-Mat Diving. |
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Primary Response Vehicle for our Underwater Search and Recovery Team - Used for surface supplied air supply and equipment storage. |
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Secondary Response Vehicle for our Underwater Search and Recovery Team |
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Confined Space Rescue Team
Our confined space team consists of twelve members. These members are all trained to the Operational level of Confined Space. What the team does is use air monitoring devices and ropes to enter into a confined space, to rescue or recover a person or object. We are trained in all the aspects of a proper confined space entry. |
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Primary Response Vehicle for our Confined Space Rescue Team |
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Hazardous Materials Team |
All members of the Southard Fire Department are trained to respond, in some fashion, to incidents involving hazardous materials (HAZ-MAT). Hazardous Materials response in the state of New Jersey is divided into five levels, covering defensive operations, offensive operations, specialized operations, and command operations.
Defensive operations are actions that do not involve responders intentionally coming in contact with a hazardous material. Offensive operations are actions where responders will aggressively enter an established danger zone in order to confine, isolate, or otherwise mitigate an incident. Listed below are the different levels and types of actions allowed. The amount of training responders need to receive represent, at a minimum, 164 hours of training, not including training required for annual recertification. The amount of training increases even more once a responder has reached level IV, which requires many more hours of academic, and hands-on experience in a particular specialization of Haz-Mat Response.
Level I - Haz-Mat Awareness – DEFENSIVE
Level II - Haz-Mat Operations – DEFENSIVE
Level III- Haz-Mat Technician – OFFENSIVE
Level IV - Haz-Mat Specialist – OFFENSIVE, requiring specialized knowledge of a specific discipline such as Cargo Tank Truck, Railroad Specialists, Radiation Emergencies, COBRA (Chemical, Ordinance, Biological, Radiological), Level "A" Protective Clothing, and Atmospheric Monitoring.
Level V- On Scene Commander – COMMAND, required for any person to command an Haz Mat incident
State law requires that all personnel are trained at minimum to Level II, which enables the responder to recognize hazardous materials, and defensive protective actions until the situation can be brought under control.
The Southard Fire Department has established a Hazardous Materials Response Team, all members are trained to the level II, Haz-Mat Operations and 22 members that are trained to Level III, Haz-Mat Technician. 12 members of the team are certified to Level V. 10 of the 12 are trained to Level IV, specializing in one, or more of the following disciplines: |
Primary Response Vehicle for Hazardous Materials Response
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Primary Response Vehicle for Hazardous Materials Incidents - Specializing in Industrial materials, WMD Incidents
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Secondary Response Vehicle for Hazardous Materials Incidents - Specializing in Decon and Medical Monitoring
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Secondary Response Vehicle for Hazardous Materials Incidents - Specializing in Chlorine Leaks, and Decon
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