Special Operations

Metro Fire’s Special Operations Division works under the Operations Branch. The Special Operations Division consists of 12 specialized programs that include:

Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF)
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Dozer Operations
Emergency Operations Plan Management
Foam Operations, Hazardous Materials (HazMat) response
Technical Rescue
Tactical Emergency Medical SWAT (TEMS)
Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
Urban Search and Rescue (US&R or USAR)
Water Rescue.

Each of the programs has a Program Manager and the Managers report to the Special Operations Battalion Chief. Each of these specialized programs exist to enhance our service delivery while also supporting Metro Fire’s ability to be an “All-Risk Agency”.

May contain: helicopter, transportation, vehicle, aircraft, person, and human

Air Operations

The Air Operations division operates Bell UH1 helicopters for the purpose of Wildland Firefighting, Rescue and EMS. The helicopters have tanks mounted to the belly of the aircraft used for water drops on Wildland fires. The overhead view is instrumental in supplying command units on the ground with valuable data in a timely manner. The aircraft are classified as rescue helicopters with…

May contain: fire truck, truck, vehicle, and transportation

ARFF - Aircraft Rescue Firefighting

Metro Fire has been providing continuous Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) services to the McClellan Airport and the United States Coast Guard by contractual agreement since April 1st of 2001.
Located directly adjacent to the flightline, Fire Station 114 houses seven full-time crew members per shift who are dedicated to fulfilling the mission of airfield fire suppression and rescue.
Two front-…

Community Emergency Response Team

Metro Fire's Community Emergency Response Team, or "CERT," was established in 2003. The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District was the first agency in the Sacramento Region to establish a CERT program. Through this program you will receive training in some of the basic skills you may need to respond to a disaster in your neighborhood.

May contain: tractor, vehicle, transportation, wheel, machine, bulldozer, and truck

Dozer Operations

Within Metro Fire, bulldozers are referred to as "Dozers." The Dozer is a three-piece unit consisting of the Dozer, the Transport, and the Lowboy. Dozers have an enclosed, air-conditioned and protected cab for the safety of the operator. The main function of the Dozer is to fight vegetation fires. The Dozer creates lines that are constructed by blading the ground removing flammable plant material…

Foam Operations

Large flammable or combustible liquid fires are high risk/low frequency incidents. Water alone will not extinguish these types of fires. Foam is required to extinguish the flames and blanket the vapors. Metro Fire deploys two Type I foam units, each carrying 660 gallons of class B alcohol resistant-aqueous film forming foam or “AR-AFFF”. Firefighting foam in addition to specialized equipment and…

May contain: truck, vehicle, transportation, person, human, and fire truck

HMRT - Hazardous Materials Response Team

Established in 2003, our Type 1 Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) is an important component of Metro Fire’s Special Operations. On average, Metro Fire responds to nearly 400 incidents involving hazardous materials every year. Housed at Station 109 in Carmichael, Metro Fire’s HMRT operates a dual-purpose apparatus that functions as both a fire and hazardous materials incident response…

Technical Rescue

With the increase in population, traffic, building construction, earthquakes and flooding, the need for a specialized training in rescue techniques is greater today than it has ever been. In response to these potential hazards, early members of Metro Fire established the Rescue Program. In order to be prepared for any rescue situation Rescue Team members are required to complete the following…

May contain: helmet, clothing, apparel, person, human, military, military uniform, army, armored, people, and troop

TEMS - Tactical Emergency Medical Services

Metro Fire provides Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) services, better known as SWAT Medics, to various law enforcement agencies throughout our region. Currently we support the Sacramento County Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail (aka SWAT), as well as SWAT/tactical teams from Citrus Heights Police, Sacramento FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations. Our TEMS team is composed of 15…

May contain: fireman, bonfire, fire, and flame

UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Metro Fire’s UAV Program is among the largest in the Region. With daily pilot and aircraft availability, a Metro Fire UAV pilot can deploy aircraft quickly and with the capability to stream Visual and Thermal camera and video images to Command, as well as to potentially delivery payloads like PFDs and Radios. Capable of day and night flight.

May contain: person, human, helmet, clothing, apparel, and nature

US&R TF7 - Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 7

California Task Force 7 is a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) team based in Sacramento. The team is made up of over 200 members from Sacramento Area Fire agencies, including 37 members from Metro Fire. Team members are highly trained and certified, using some of the latest rescue techniques and equipment in collapse rescue, heavy rigging, logistics support, hazardous materials response, medical…

May contain: watercraft, transportation, vehicle, vessel, person, human, nature, and outdoors

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