PANAMA CITY, FL — January 21st — Members of the Panama City Fire Department have passed Operations-Level Trench Rescue certification, qualifying them to serve on the department's Urban Search and Rescue Team. The course focused on hazard recognition, scene safety, shoring systems, and coordinated rescue tactics for trench and excavation events.

The training was delivered by Engineer Justin Gay, who has been the department's trench rescue teacher since 2016. Firefighters spent several hours practicing stabilization, patient access, and collaboration in controlled and realistic circumstances.