The Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue recognizes the community’s need for emergency responses involving specialized operations and functions.The primary mission of the Special Operations Teams is to protect and provide assistance to the citizens of Hampton, surrounding areas, and other localities when special operations are needed:
The Hazardous Materials Response Team
Provides emergency response and mitigation to incidents involving radiological, biological and/or chemical materials. Duties include assessment and containment of the hazardous situation or environment; decontamination that may include the surrounding population; coordination of evacuation if necessary, and monitoring clean-up activities.
The Marine Emergency Response Team (MERT)
Provides emergency response and mitigation to incidents that occur in water-related/marine-type environments. Duties include rescue and recovery operations; underwater sonar search, marine firefighting, and providing assistance to citizens and/or vessels in distress. The Marine team participates as a partner in the Hampton Roads Maritime Incident Response Team and assists the Virginia Port Authority and United States Coast Guard.
The Technical Rescue Team
Provides emergency response and mitigation to incidents involving collapsed structures, confined spaces, below grade trench collapse, and entrapments. Duties include efficient stabilization of vehicles, heavy equipment, building, etc., for safe entry to victims; quick and effective rescue, removal and/or recovery of victims from elevated or below grade environments, confined spaces or building collapses; and the promotion of safety among all operations within the division. Hampton’s Technical Rescue Team participates as a member with the Peninsula Regional Technical Rescue Team, Tidewater Regional Technical Rescue Team, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Urban Search and Rescue VA Task Force 2.