The Green Valley Fire District is sometimes called on to respond to emergency incidents that require specialized training or resources above and beyond what our standard response units can provide. In support of these types of incidents, the Green Valley Fire District has special operations personnel who have received additional training in specific disciplines to help mitigate these types of unique incidents.
The Green Valley Fire District supports three specific specialty groups within special operations and is overseen by a Battalion Chief who is responsible for all Special Operations.
Hazardous Materials
n addition to the 50 firefighters trained as first-responders for hazardous materials response, the Green Valley Fire District has 13 personnel who are trained as Hazardous Materials Technicians. These technicians are able to provide expertise and resources in support of a hazardous materials incident.
GVFD hazmat personnel work as part of the Pima County Regional Team and will respond anywhere they are needed within Pima County. Pima County's regional team has more than 60 members and is equipped to respond to a variety of hazardous material emergencies including:
- Explosives
- Compressed gasses
- Flammable liquids and gasses
- Poisonous or toxic substances
- Radioactive Materials
- Flammable Solids
- Corrosives
Technical Rescue
Technical Rescue Technicians are firefighters who have received 200 additional hours of specialty training in rescue disciplines. The Green Valley Fire District specializes in five disciplines of technical rescue. These include:
- Rope Rescue (Low to High Angle)
- Confined Space Rescue
- Trench Rescue
- Water Rescue (Swift and Still Water)
- Structural Collapse
Like our Hazmat Team, the TRT Team also works as part of a regional team within Pima County, allowing for additional support for complex rescues.
Wildland
While all GVFD firefighters are trained to fight wildland fires, the Green Valley Fire District is fortunate to have a number of personnel who have received additional specialized training in support of this discipline. Members of the GVFD Wildland Team not only support wildland incidents within our District and neighboring communities, but they are also routinely deployed outside of Arizona in support of wildland firefighting efforts. This past year, wildland crews spent time in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California.