TECHNICAL RESCUE
The Franklinville Fire Department is proudly certified to provide a full range of specialized rescue services to our community and surrounding areas. Each service represents our ongoing commitment to safety, professionalism, and preparedness. Click the links below to explore each area of service and learn more about how the Franklinville Fire Department stands ready to respond—day or night, whenever duty calls.
​
Heavy Rescue
In North Carolina, Heavy Rescue is part of the state’s Technical Rescuer program and addresses incidents involving large, complex vehicles—like semi-trucks, buses, or heavy machinery—where conventional passenger-vehicle extrication techniques are inadequate. Under NC OSFM oversight, technicians must first be certified in common vehicle rescue before advancing to the heavy-vehicle series (FRC-1211), and training must align with NFPA 1006 standards.
Swift Water Rescue
Swift Water Rescue trains responders to perform rescues in fast-moving or floodwater environments such as rivers, creeks, storm channels, and disaster flood zones. These operations often involve victims trapped in vehicles, stranded on debris, or swept away by current—requiring precise teamwork and advanced water survival skills. Certified under NFPA 1006 and the NC OSFM Technical Rescuer (FRC 1209) standard, rescuers learn hydrology awareness, rope and tether systems, watercraft operations, and in-water victim recovery techniques.
Confined Space Rescue
Confined Space Rescue prepares responders to safely enter and operate within hazardous, enclosed environments such as tanks, silos, utility vaults, tunnels, and industrial piping systems. These incidents often involve victims trapped by toxic atmospheres, limited oxygen, or structural hazards. Certified rescuers are trained under NFPA 1006 and the NC OSFM Technical Rescuer (FRC 1206) standard, focusing on atmospheric monitoring, ventilation, rope-based retrieval systems, and the use of supplied-air equipment.
Trench Rescue
Currently in-progress, the Trench Rescue discipline in North Carolina equips responders to handle emergencies involving victims trapped in excavations or collapsed trenches—often in construction or utility settings. These rescues demand expertise in soil stabilization, shoring systems, atmospheric testing, and victim extrication techniques to prevent further collapse and ensure rescuer safety. This specialization develops responders capable of stabilizing unstable soil conditions, managing hazards, and conducting safe, efficient rescues from below-ground environments.
