Specialized Services

Members Of K9 Team

In emergency response, no call is ever considered 'routine' and crews are always ready for the unexpected.

But there are emergencies that require skills above and beyond regular training. That is where our Specialized Services come in.

Urban Search & Rescue (USAR)

By late 2006 our USAR Team included 40 trained department members. Another 25-30 will be required from outside fire.

USAR K-9 Team

The USAR Team includes eight K-9 Handlers (and their partners). It will be the fifth such unit to be formed in Canada. These teams are so specialized

that fewer than 30 have been formed in the United States.

Other teams in Canada are based in Vancouver, Calgary, Manitoba and Toronto.

USAR Teams are trained and equipped to search for and rescue victims after a natural disaster or terrorist attack.

Teams from 15 states and the Vancouver team responded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans area in 2005. In fact members of the Vancouver team were the first rescuers to arrive at one hard-hit area of Louisiana.

Technical Rescue Teams & Hazardous Materials Teams

Complicated rescue situations and hazardous materials also pose an occasional challenge.

A Technical Rescue Unit is based at Station 3 (West St). Other specialized gear such as Trench Rescue Equipment is ready for rapid deployment from Stn 3.

Tactical One responds from Station 12 (Highfield Park) to all Technical Rescue and Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) calls. A specially equipped Hazmat Trailer is kept in Station 12.   (Click Here For More On The HazMat Team)

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Response Teams

Dirty bombs, suspicious “white powders” and the intentional release of toxic industrial chemicals are examples of CBRN incidents.

The training of CBRN Teams was a 2003 initiative sponsored by the Government of Canada resulting from the Word Trade Center attacks.

We have nine teams in HRM, each comprised of members from HRM Fire, HRM Police, RCMP, and Emergency Health Services.   (Click Here For More)