5 Members of The Woodlands Fire Department's Technical Rescue Team Awarded the Urban Search and Rescue Rescue Specialist Certification

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- On April 29th, 5 members of The Woodlands Fire Department's Technical Rescue Team were awarded the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Rescue Specialist Certification from Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service - TEEX.

Congratulations to Lt. Chris Mitcham, Driver/Operator Gerard van der Werff, Driver/Operator Chris Evans, Firefighter Kevin Wiens and Firefighter Triston Whitehead on achieving this prestigious designation.

The USAR Rescue Specialist Certification is designed for members of a search and rescue team (task force) that wish to obtain the highest level of training and expertise in structural collapse rescue operations. It involves over 300+ hours of required training. The required classes involve the following courses:

1. Structural Collapse Specialist – 80 hours
2. NFPA 1006 Rope Rescue Technician – 100 hours
3. Advanced Structural Collapse 3 (Exterior Shoring) – 50 hours
4. Advanced Structural Collapse 4 (Interior Shoring) – 50 hours
5. Advanced Structural Collapse 5 (Breaching & Breaking) – 50 hours
6. One Elective - Swiftwater Tech or Wide Area Search – 32 hours

Throughout the nation, there are only 225 people with this elite certification and nine of them are firefighters for TWFD. Thank you to The Woodlands Township and Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for the support and funding of this incredible training.

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