Seminole County Fire Department Places New Specialized Rescue Squad into Service

The Seminole County Fire Department recently placed its new Squad 2 into service during a traditional push-in ceremony at Fire Station 35, marking the arrival of the department's fourth-generation heavy rescue apparatus and a significant investment in specialized emergency response.
 
The new Squad 2 is a $1.7 million, state-of-the-art apparatus equipped with thousands of pieces of specialized equipment used to respond to some of Seminole County's most challenging emergencies. Often described as a "rolling toolbox," the apparatus supports firefighters during incidents that require advanced technical rescue capabilities beyond traditional fire suppression and emergency medical services.
 
"Squad 2 serves as the Seminole County Fire Department's premier heavy rescue apparatus, providing specialized capabilities for incidents that go beyond traditional fire and EMS response," said Fire Chief Matt Kinley of the Seminole County Fire Department. "This one-of-a-kind, all-hazards response unit strengthens our ability to safely and effectively respond to the community's most complex emergencies while ensuring our firefighters have the tools they need to protect lives."
 
“Our residents count on us to be ready for any emergency, especially the most complex and challenging incidents,” said Vice Chairman Amy Lockhart of the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners. “This investment in Squad 2 ensures our firefighters have the specialized training, advanced equipment and resources needed to protect our community when every second counts.”
 
Based at Fire Station 35, Squad 2 is staffed by members of the department's Special Hazards & Operations Team (SHOT), a specialized unit established in 1992 that responds to technical rescue and hazardous materials incidents throughout Seminole County.
Squad 2 responds to a wide range of emergencies, including:

• Hazardous materials incidents
• Vehicle and heavy machinery extrications
• Confined space rescues
• High-angle and rope rescues
• Trench rescues
• Structural collapse operations
• Structural shoring and stabilization
• Large animal rescues
• Other specialized rescue incidents

 
Whether rescuing victims trapped after a serious crash, stabilizing a collapsed structure or responding to a hazardous chemical release, Squad 2 provides specialized resources that enhance the department's ability to protect residents and visitors across Seminole County.
The department's first Squad 2 entered service in 1994. The new apparatus replaces the previous front-line unit, which will continue serving the department as a reserve rescue vehicle. In 2025, Squad 2 responded to more than 1,000 incidents, underscoring the critical role the unit plays in protecting the community.
 
The push-in ceremony honored a long-standing fire service tradition dating back to the days of horse-drawn fire apparatus, when firefighters would manually push equipment into the station after returning from a call. Today, the ceremony symbolizes placing a new apparatus into service and recognizing the firefighters who will operate it for years to come.
 
 Fast Facts on Seminole County Fire Department’s new Squad 2:

• Cost: $1.7 million
• Entered service: July 1, 2026
• Fourth-generation Squad 2
• More than 1,000 calls in 2025
• Home station: Fire Station 35 in Sanford/Lake Mary
• SHOT established: 1992

 
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About the Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD): The Seminole County Fire Department serves nearly a half-million residents countywide with 21 fire stations and responds to over 50,000 incidents annually. SCFD holds an ISO Class 1 rating, is accredited by the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CFAI), is gold standard–accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), and is an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. SCFD provides emergency services to unincorporated Seminole County and the cities of Altamonte Springs, Casselberry and Winter Springs, and maintains first-response agreements with Lake Mary, Longwood, Sanford, Oviedo, and Orlando Sanford International Airport. Follow SCFD on Facebook (@SCFD.1974), Instagram (@seminolefd) and X (@SCFDPIO). For more information, visit www.SCFDFL.com.