SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — January 26th — At the Florida Hazardous Materials Symposium in Daytona Beach, Sarasota County Emergency Services revealed that its Special Operations Team participated in the Florida Hazardous Materials Team competition. Teams from all around Florida came together for the event, which used timed challenges and realistic scenarios to assess technical proficiency, teamwork, and operational readiness. Lt. James Callahan-Bond, Lt. Ben Timpe, Firefighter/EMT Bryan Boley, and Firefighter/Paramedic Izak Schaefer were all part of the Sarasota squad.

Out of nine participating teams, the group finished third overall. Hazard identification, incident management, decontamination, and safe mitigation techniques were the main topics of the scenarios. Attending the symposium, according to department authorities, promotes professional development, regional cooperation, and continuing training. The members were commended by Sarasota County Emergency Services for representing the county and enhancing preparedness for technical rescue and hazardous material situations.