The LSFD began providing dive rescue and underwater recovery services in 1981. In 1987, the Hamilton County Sheriff requested that the LSFD assist his office with the formation of a dive team. At the time, this type of cooperative effort was almost unheard of between a fire department and a law enforcement agency. However, the two agencies worked so well together that the dive was expanded to involve other emergency service agencies in the area and set an example for similar teams to be formed across the country. The team has performed hundreds of water rescues and evidence recoveries since its inception and is regularly requested to send support teams to cities and states outside of our normal three county response area. One of TF-1’s most notable responses occurred during the Ohio River Flood of 1997. TF-1 was instrumental in establishing the first communications center in Falmouth, Kentucky, a town hit particularly hard by the flooding. As a whole, TF-1 made over 50 rescues along the Ohio River in Falmouth and Adams County, Ohio.

The Underwater Search, Rescue, and Recovery Division has been in existence since 1987. This division works with local agencies through the Tri-State area to provide victim rescue and recovery and evidence recovery in and around bodies of water. The Underwater Search, Rescue and Recovery Division is committed to improving scene safety through risk vs. benefit analysis, current technology, and training. When diving, TF-1 diving teams use a 2:1 rule. For every diver in the water, there are 2 surface personnel making sure nothing goes wrong. Divers are protected from cold contaminated waters by a dry suit with thermal protection under the suit. The diver’s mask offers full face protection with a clear lens for visibility, which enables the diver to be comfortable at cold temperatures. The divers have verbal communications with surface personnel through a hard wired umbilical connected to a Diver Control Panel on the surface. Divers receive their air supply through this umbilical and wear a smaller tank on their back as an emergency air supply. This surface supplied air with direct communication improves diver safety and enhances operational efficiency.

TF-1 currently operates a Marine Sonic Technology 900KHz Side Scanning Sonar to view dive target areas before a recovery dive operation is considered. The sonar delivers images to a computer of the target area that will map the target on GPS. With a better idea of the location of the diving target, divers can then descend on the directly on the target. This reduces the amount of time a diver is in the water because the use of time consuming search techniques can be limited. In 2008, TF-1 was awarded a grant for the purchase of stainless steel diving helmets with dry suits and thermal protection further enhancing the protection of our divers. This equipment is the most current technology on the diving market.

The TEMS Division was established in 1992. The Paramedics from the TEMS Division perform emergency medical care in a tactical police environment for the Hamilton and Clermont County Sheriff’s Offices. These Tactical Paramedics are regularly faced with challenges that are seldom encountered in traditional EMS. Tactical Paramedics train extensively in injury trends associated with calls involving Special Response Team (SRT) and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) deployments. In addition, Tactical Paramedics are cross trained in Law Enforcement, Tactical Medical Support, and Basic SWAT techniques to improve service delivery and enhance capabilities. Emergency medical care is provided in the field based on protocols and standing orders from a physician. Tactical Paramedics remain on the cutting edge of emergency medical technology to insure that their patients are receiving the best treatment available.

TF-1 provides clandestine lab response to mitigate hazards associated with these dangerous labs. Lab Technicians have a high level of experience in hazardous materials emergency response and provide technical expertise, hazard mitigation, and medical support when requested at these incidents.