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Squad Companies

Recognizing the need for specialized emergency response, the department converted three Engine Companies to Squad Companies in 2003. These enhanced Engine Companies are available to provide a wide variety of technical skills through training and education in Rapid Intervention Team Operations, Vehicle Extrication, Water Search and Rescue, Shipboard Firefighting as well as various Technical Rescue components. In addition to these specialties and assignments, the Squads continue to respond to their normal fire and emergency medical calls. To enhance on-scene staffing, the next available Squad Company will respond to any confirmed "working fire." The Squad closest to the incident will be dispatched to serve in the capacity of a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT). The Rapid Intervention Team will stand by at the incident, ready to facilitate the rescue of any fire department member who may become trapped, injured or otherwise incapacitated while working on scene. The addition of the Squad companies is another example of the progressive, professional service that the citizens of Portsmouth can rely on when seconds count.

• Squad 3 - Marine Incident Response Team (MIRT); Fire Boat 1 response

• Squad 4 - Technical Rescue
• Squad 7 - Advanced Vehicle Extrication 

last updated February, 2007