KWFD Specialty Rescue Training

Members of the Key West Fire Department recently completed important for Urban Search and Rescue Vehicle and Machinery Rescue (USAR VMR) training. Through this training, the department ensures the community has a specialized rescue team trained to extricate people trapped in vehicles or machinery during an emergency situation.

This specialized skill set is typically part of a larger USAR team. The VMR team is specifically trained to use specialized tools like hydraulic cutters, spreaders, and lifting bags to safety access and extricate victims.

“This training focuses on rescuing individuals trapped in cars, trucks, heavy machinery, or other vehicles involved in accidents,” said Key West Fire Department Training Chief Gregory Barroso. “VMR personnel are typically part of a larger Urban Search and Rescue team, responding to various complex rescue scenarios including structural collapses, trench rescues, and confined space incidents.”