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Plymouth County Technical Rescue

Plymouth County Tech Rescue:

The Plymouth County Technical Rescue Team is made up of firefighters and public safety members from the 27 towns (29 fire departments) within Plymouth County Massachusetts.  The team consists of approximately 70 members of all ranks and operates with 11 trucks/ trailers placed around the county.  The team assists local fire departments in conducting rescue services in high angle and low angle rope, tower climbing, confined space, trench, scuba dive, swift-water, structural collapse, and large animal rescues.

A Critical Multi-Agency Partnership

When disaster strikes in inaccessible terrain or extreme environmental conditions, specialized situations demand specialized solutions. Our department is proud to support and operate alongside the Massachusetts Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (MA-HART), a premier, state-level aerial rescue asset designed to save lives when seconds and terrain matter most.

MA-HART is a joint-response program that combines the heavy-lift aviation capabilities of the Massachusetts Army National Guard with the advanced technical rescue and medical expertise of local civilian first responders. Coordinated through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), this partnership creates a highly mobile, mission-ready package capable of deploying anywhere in the Commonwealth—and beyond—at a moment’s notice.

Hanson Fire Aquatic Team

By pairing military UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and flight crews with veteran firefighters and paramedics, the team brings definitive care and rescue capabilities directly to the victim, regardless of the environment.

Mission Capabilities

The MA-HART team trains rigorously to execute high-stakes rescues under extreme pressure. Their primary operational capabilities include:

  • Swiftwater & Flood Rescue: Rapid extraction of victims trapped by rising waters, structural flooding, or treacherous currents.
  • Wilderness & High-Angle Rescue: Utilizing dynamic hoist operations to insert rescue technicians into dense forests, rock faces, or ravines to secure and extract lost or injured individuals.
  • Complex Medical Evacuations: Providing advanced life support and continuous paramedic care while hoisting and extracting victims from areas inaccessible to traditional ambulances or ATVs.
  • Disaster Response: Capable of large-scale personnel movement, equipment sling-loading, and airborne firefighting operations.

Elite Training and Readiness

Operating in and around a hovering helicopter requires an exceptional level of discipline, communication, and technical skill. Members of MA-HART dedicate hundreds of hours annually to joint training. Civilian rescue technicians on the team must maintain rigorous, high-level certifications, including NFPA-compliant Rope Rescue Technician and Swift Water Operations credentials.

This ongoing dedication ensures that when local fire chiefs or emergency managers request state assistance for a complex rescue, the MA-HART flight crews and rescue technicians operate as a single, flawless unit—bringing the highest standard of rescue directly to those in need.