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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on February 15, 2009 at 3:25pm

I'm not from FDNY, but the general idea for the difference between their rescues and squads are:

Rescue Companies operate heavy rescue vehicles. Their crews specialize in rescuing trapped firefighters at fires, and civilians who are trapped in special circumstances that require rope rescue, water rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue, structural collapse rescue, or heavy vehicle/machinery extrication. Rescue companies have been a FDNY staple since the early 1900's when Rescue 1 was formed. Rescue companies are identified by blue helmet frontpieces.

Squad Companies operate engines that have been modified to carry extra equipment. Squads are capable of performing engine tasks, most truck tasks that don't involve aerial devices or tall ground ladders, and some rescue and hazmat company functions. Squad companies were around as manpower units in the 1960's and 1970's, if I remember correctly. Squad 2 (disbanded decades ago) members were featured in Dennis Smith's "Report From Engine Co. 82. The new-style squad companies were reincarnated fairly recently to add some multifunction capability while still allowing the squad to operate as an engine in their 1st due.

Baltimore City now operates a few squads to supplement Rescue 1, their only heavy rescue.
In most of Maryland and in Washington, D.C., a "Rescue Squad" is the designation for a heavy rescue company.
Just to confuse things a little, this designation is often shortened to "Squad" on the radio. Maryland uses the designation "Rescue Engine" for a company with duties very similar to FDNY's squads.

In Ohio, a "squad" is the radio designation for what most of us would call an ambulance.

In Tennessee, a "Rescue Squad" is an organization that performs rescue and may also perform EMS.
In North Carolina and Virginia, a "Rescue Squad" is an organization that performs EMS, and may or may not perform phyical rescues.
In South Carolina, the "Rescue Squad" designation is close to Virginia's and North Carolina's...except in Pickens County and Oconee County, where the designation mirrors Tennessee's.

Chattanooga, TN Fire-Rescue has four "Squads" that are rescue engines similar to FDNY's.

Beaufort County, SC defines a squad as a light-duty rescue, generally without a pump, water, or hose.
Phoenix, AZ, defines this same vehicle as a "Ladder Tender".
Chattanooga previously had two of these vehicle, which were defined as "Extrication" units.

Confused even more...no wonder. NIMS standard terminology hasn't caught up to the rescue/squad/EMS world yet.

Ask Mike Schlags what a "Patient Tender" is? :-)

Ben

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Permalink Reply by rescueortruck on February 15, 2009 at 4:34pm

thanks for your input you went far more into it then I was expecting.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on February 15, 2009 at 4:55pm

Confused enough? Slogging through the terminology is a pretty lengthy fire service history project.

Also, FDNY Squad companies wear yellow helmet front shields.

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Permalink Reply by Bobby Moser on February 15, 2009 at 5:10pm

If I am not mistaken......A Squad runs Med. calls with EMS units.
Rescue's do Working Fires.....Fire Search and Rescue,Vehicle Extrication, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on February 15, 2009 at 6:01pm

That varies with where you are and what the local terminology is.

For example, Chattanooga, Tennessee's four squads are rescue pumpers. They run fires, EMS calls, extrication, rope rescue, confined space rescue, etc.

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