09/02/2026
Yesterday, two of our on-duty OAKWAY tech rescue team members were deployed to Oxford to assist with a trench rescue—an incident that required specialized training, coordinated operations, and a commitment to doing the job safely and professionally.
While the titles firefighter and paramedic already carry tremendous responsibility, many of our members go above and beyond those roles. They dedicate additional time to becoming part of specialty teams, maintaining advanced certifications, and continually training for the complex, low-frequency emergencies that demand more than routine fire and EMS operations.
Technical rescue incidents such as trench collapses require deliberate scene management, hazard recognition, shoring and stabilization, confined-space considerations, patient care in difficult environments, and seamless teamwork among multiple agencies. Because our members invest the time and effort to build and maintain these skills, they are prepared to step in when our neighboring communities need help.
We are proud of the two members who represented our department and union yesterday, and we are grateful for all of the responders who worked together to safely remove the victim.