Special Operations Team Organization

The Rogers Fire Department's Special Operations Team is responsible for a coordinated response to Hazardous Materials, high/low angle rescue, confined space rescue, water rescue, and collapse rescue incidents.  The team is staffed as a task force, comprised of members specializing in technical rescue and hazardous materials. The Special Operations Team is primarily housed at Fire Station 5, utilizing Truck 5, Rescue 5, and Medic 5.  Members formally assigned as part of this team receive an additional monthly stipend for their time and expertise. 

Special Operations Team Roster

RFDSOT is lead by a Director who is responsible for overall operations and our Subject Matter Experts. There are two primary disciplines that make-up our team, hazardous materials and technical rescue, both headed up by a Team Coordinator. These Coordinators manage the training and testing necessary to keep skill levels up.

Special Operations Team Training

The Special Operations Team drills monthly on various skills.  The entire department also conducts annual training sessions on a variety of specialized skills designed to support and supplement the Special Operations Team. 

All RFDSOT Members are required to achieve a minimum level of training. These certifications are designed to maximize the versatility of the Member and the team. Within 18 months of joining SOT each member must have completed the following training.

• Rope Rescue 1,2, and 3
• Swiftwater 1 and A
• Confined Space Technician
• Hazardous Materials Technician
• Basic Air Monitoring
• Structural Collapse Operations
• Trench Rescue Technician

The training is based on a yearly SOT Yearly Training Plan that can be accessed at the top of this page.

  Recent accomplishments of the Special Operations Team include:

• Completion of 2 Hazardous Materials Technician Classes, brining the total Techs on the SOT to 24.
• Completion of 2 Swiftwater Rescue I Classes, brining the total Techs on the SOT to 24.
• Election of 4 new members in September 2010.
• Establishment of Subject Matter Experts to facilitate training and equipment maintenance.
• Completion of Rope Technician 1,2, and 3 classes, bringing the total number of Techs to 24
• Delivery of our new Heavy Rescue (Rescue 5). 

NWARHMRT

Although the Special Operations Team serves as a combination, multi-hazard team we also have six (6) members who serve as designated participants on the Northwest Arkansas Regional Hazmat Response Team (NWARHMRT).  Participation in this team allows for the local Rogers Fire Department response to be supplemented quickly with additional certified responders and specialized equipment from the surrounding cities of Fayetteville, Springdale, and Bentonville.  The regional response vehicle used by the team is housed at Springdale Fire Station 6.  By using regional resources, a pool of quality responders can be made available to the community at a reduced cost.

NWARHMRT Members

Any inquiries for the NWARHMRT should be directed to the Mike Cerasale,
                                                                                      Regional Coordinator.
                                                                                      MCerasale@rogersark.org