Technical Rescue Team

Technical rescue involves assisting and coordinating life-saving efforts in the search, extrication and safeguarding of trapped victims during natural, manmade accidents and/or disasters. That could include an emergency such as a fall from the King & Queen Seat in Rocks State Park, a vehicle swept away by flood waters or a building collapse.

Members of the team strive to follow the most current rescue methodology and practices in providing the safest, most expedient and cost-effective technical rescue operations available.

Response examples

Harford County Special Operations team assisted Level Volunteer Fire Company in rescuing a cow stuck in a pond in the 3900 block of Rock Run Road in Havre de Grace. After several attempts, the cow was pulled from the cold water, then to a nearby barn to warm up. By the time rescue crews left, she was standing on her own.

Technicians helped safely remove a tree trimmer who got stuck while working in Bel Air. They secured the worker to a ladder so when he moved, he wouldn’t fall, then connected a sling to the employee, which allowed him to move from the tree to the extended ladder of a Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company fire truck. The trapped trimmer walked down the ladder to safety.

Technicians assisted Cecil County in extricating a person trapped in a silo auger. It took four hours to safely remove the person's leg from the machine in his complex rescue.

Swiftwater rescue members rescued a dozen or so people stuck in high flood water during a rain storm that cause flooding in the Bel Air area.