The Shreveport Fire Department Special Operations & Safety Division's primary goal is to ensure the personal safety of all of the members of the Shreveport Fire Department. This administrative division utilizes full time District Safety Officers (DSO) for each of its three 24 hour shifts. There are six DSO on duty at all times for each of the six designated fire department districts in the city of Shreveport. All of these DSO have been trained and certified as Fire Department Incident Safety Officers through the Fire Department Safety Officer’s Association. Their duties include emergency scene safety, station safety inspections, inspection of personal protective equipment, accountability of fire crews, emergency driving, and teach safety training classes.

This division oversees and monitors the overall Health, Wellness and Fitness of all members of the department. This is accomplished through the Fire Service Joint Labor-Management Wellness and Fitness Initiative that was developed through the International Association of Firefighters and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. The firefighter wellness oversees annual health physicals for all members, annual fitness evaluations for all members, and promotes physical, mental, and behavioral well-being. The program utilizes Peer Fitness Trainers that are certified as fitness instructors through the American Council on Exercise. This program is designed so that our firefighters are as healthy and physically fit as possible to do the strenuous task they are required to do in the performance of their duty.

This division coordinates the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) for the department. This includes training, equipment, and emergency response to Hazardous Materials, Vehicle Extrication, Water Rescue and Recovery, Trench Rescue, Urban Search and Rescue, Rope Rescue and High Angle, and Confined Space Rescue.

This division also monitors infection control protection associated with patient care and provides a liaison to the medical community as well as state and federal regulatory agencies.

Water Rescue Team

Each year, the river, lakes and bayous in Shreveport provide countless hours of entertainment and relaxation for our citizens. However, the elements of danger and tragedy are always connected to water-related activities. The Shreveport Fire Department Water Rescue Team has, for over thirty years, provided emergency response to drowning, attempted suicides and accidents, and has recovered property and vehicles for area law enforcement agencies.

In 1995, the Water Rescue Team was dispatched to more than 40 assignments; including 12 attempted suicides from local bridges, two of which actually entered the water and were successfully removed; assisted law enforcement on five occasions for weapons recovery or homicide victim search; seven stand-by assignments for special events; one chemical release, and the body recovery of two drowning victims. The team has received a sixteen foot support trailer that will be used on extended assignments, and a 12' inflatable raft for rapid deployment. Five new divers were added this year and nearly 100 man hours of training were completed.

BACK TO TOP