Special Teams
Special Hazards Unit
The SHU trailer, or Special Hazards Unit, is used by the West Metro Fire-Rescue District to respond to a variety of emergencies. Some of these emergencies include structural collapse, trench collapse, confined space emergencies, and high angle rescues. The equipment includes hydraulic shoring devices to aid in stabilizing compromised trench walls, as well as shovels for removing excess dirt from around a trapped victim in a trench. For confined space rescues we carry a special breathing air system that will allow a rescuer to work without the need of wearing a traditional air pack, as well as smaller helmets that give the rescuer a reduced profile for getting into such cramped spaces. There is also a variety of rescue rope and hardware that can be used in either confined space or high angle rescues, depending on the nature of the incident.
Technical Rescue Team
The West Metro Fire-Rescue District has recently assembled a Technical Rescue Team. The team is currently comprised of seven members, representing all three of our stations. This team will grow each year in membership, to bring the entire department to a higher level than has already been achieved. The mission of this team is to implement specialized rope rescue techniques to facilitate the extrication of victims from confined spaces or elevated places on tall structures. The initial training that a member undergoes is 44 hours. In that time the skills that are taught include rope care and maintenance, building rope systems for the lowering and raising of the rescuer and victim, and patient packaging.
Technical Rescue Team
The LSU trailer is one of many in the metro area that was provided as part of the Home Land Security Grants from the government to provide cities and communities a means of providing life safety services in the event of a natural disaster or worse yet a WMD disaster (weapons of mass destruction).
This trailer provides cities in Hennepin County with several Hazardous materials evaluation and monitoring devices. Such as Drager monitoring tubes used to monitor the air for different gases and radiological devices in the event of a radiological disaster. The trailer also has level A suits for working in a Hot Zone in addition to Level B and Level C suits. There is also a decontamination tent in the event that either firefighters or citizens would need to be decontaminated from a hazardous substance; this tent has hot and cold water capabilities with a soap dispenser in addition to an air heater.
This trailer also houses some hazardous materials absorbent material for several types of spills such as gas or acids, and some water booms in the event of a particular material enters a pond or water way as to control the spill.