Special Operations Response

Technical rescue response teams are utilized to respond to those hazards that require unique strategies for rescue and mitigation. These include hazardous materials response, industrial rescue, large vehicle entrapment, both surface and dive water rescue, flood evacuation and rescue, compromised building stabilization, mass transportation accident response, large area searches, confined space entry and rescue, and large animal rescue.

The Lathrop Manteca Fire District has a unique hazard assessment within its boundaries. Our firefighters have responded to accidents involving horses, cars into buildings, large trucks on top of cars, hazardous materials releases, explosions with compromised buildings, river drownings, boating accidents, levee failures, and many other challenging situations. These incidents are typically low in number of responses but require very technical training to mitigate. These incident are very high in the risk to the public. Some of these events may also effect large numbers of our populations served.

Our technical rescue teams were started by a core group of passionate firefighters that identified a need. In 1988 the fire district partnered with surrounding agencies to form the High Angle, Ground, Water Specialist (H.A.W.G.S.) team. This team was made up of a highly trained group of firefighters that met the Army Corps of Engineers training to Civil Defense Standards called "Heavy Rescue." Later in the early 1990's this team was changed to the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team. Today the team has expanded their capabilities into various other hazards: hazardous materials response and dive rescue & recovery. 

In mid 2020 the State of California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) placed a Type 2 Urban Search and Rescue Trailer that was fully equipped under the LMFD's assigned capabilities. The trailer deploys with 6 USAR members when the state calls for the resource to deploy. In addition, the Lathrop Manteca Fire District was offered and agreed to host California Swift Water Search and Rescue Team 13. The state only sponsors 13 of these type water rescue teams, and they are paramount to the state's mutual aid mission. This team deploys with a minimum of 14 members and is a great resource given the areas historic levee system and the numerous waterways in our local jurisdiction. The LMFD is honored to be a partner with CalOES to host this team. The team is a cooperative effort between the Lathrop Manteca Fire District, the City of Manteca, and the South San Joaquin County Fire Authority. Each of the participating agencies sends personnel that staff the team with an oversight member for the Lathrop Manteca Fire District. 

The LMFD is compensated for its expenses when these units are called to respond at the states request.

Each of our technical response teams are trained to industry best practices standards in the unique ways we can best serve our citizens and business community!