South Toe Swift Water Team
The South Toe Volunteer Fire and Rescue Swift Water Team consists of many members trained in Swift Water Rescue. Due to the abundant amount rainfall each year and the South Toe River running through the middle of our District, swift water occasionally challenges our Department. We are proud of the recreational facilities within our District which include the US Forest Service maintained Black Mountain and Carolina Hemlocks Campgrounds, as well as the County owned and operated Patience Park Campground, not to mention the vacation rentals along the beautiful South Toe River; However, we are aware of the dangers flood waters can cause. Our Rescue truck (1305) is equipped with both eight man rafts and single man rafts that can be deployed using high pressure SCBAs. Rescue 1305 also carries 400 feet of water rescue rope and an additional 1200 feet of sterling 5/8” rescue rope. We are equipped with 8 sets of Class 5 Swift Water gear and 8 sets of Class 3 gear to handle almost any emergency. We are pending grants to be able to
track each member within the water using GPS tracking devices that
will be attached to all Class 5 personnel gear and activated during each incident.
South Toe SCUBA Dive Team
The South Toe Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dive Team consists of 20 volunteer members from South Toe. Of these members, 14 are certified Open Water Divers, one Advance Open Water Diver and one Advance Open Water with three Advanced Specialties. These members are required to maintain a yearly physical with their family doctor, who must approve these members prior to diving. Dive members have taken the SDI (SCUBA Diving International) Open Water Dive certification course, a course which requires 8 hours of classroom lecture, several pool dives and practical skills tests, as well as 4 open water lake dives, with depths up to 130 feet. This certification is only the beginning for South Toe, which plans to take our Dive Team further, allowing 8 members to certify as Advanced Open Water Divers (AOWD), a certification that requires 4 specialty certifications. The AOWD also requires a minimum of 25 logged dives, which must be at least 60 feet deep, or the diver must breath at least 2/3 of his or her SCUBA tank. Future plans for a certified "Rescue Dive Team" is our goal as a Department.
Wildland Urban Interface Team
South Toe Volunteer Fire and Rescue recognizes the necessity of protecting the community from all emergencies. With nearly 30,000 acres of National Forest System Lands (Pisgah National Forests – Appalachian Ranger District), 1000 acres of National Park Service Lands (Blue Ridge Parkway) and nearly 3,000 acres of State Lands (Mount Mitchell State Park ) our top priority is to keep the residents of South Toe Township safe and protected from wildfires.
South Toe Fire Department members are certified through the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) as Type II and Type I firefighters: the highest level of certification in wildland firefighting. Out members are trained in Basic Wildland Firefighting (S-130 and S-190), S-212 Chain Saws on the Fire Line, S-211 Wildland Fire Pumps, S-260 Business Operations, S-290 Advanced Fire Behavior, S-131 Crew boss/ Firefighter Type 1 and many more certifications including helicopter crew member to Dozer boss. All certifications are through the North Carolina Interagency Dispatch Center (US Forest Service).
Along with firefighting skills, Incident management is a necessity and our members come well trained with certifications in I-100 introduction to Incident Management, I-200 Basic Incident Management, I-300 Intermediate Incident Management and I-400 Advanced Incident Management.
Our members have dozens of firefighting assignments across the United States, including Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona as well as many other states across the U.S. Our Urban Interface Team consists of a Task-Force of a two Type 6 Engines (1307 and 1306), two Type 2 Engines (1301 and 1302) and 2 Water Tenders/Tankers (1303 and 1304) for water support.
We have been blessed to have been awarded several Grants to purchase equipment to support our team. Both Type 6 engines were awarded under a Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). All 45 sets of Personnel Protective Gear from head to toe were also awarded under AFG. Our continued maintenance of equipment for each apparatus on the Task-Force is funded through the North Carolina State Forest Service (Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program) each year in the amount of $5,000 annually.
South Toe Fire Department members are certified through the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) as Type II and Type I firefighters: the highest level of certification in wildland firefighting. Out members are trained in Basic Wildland Firefighting (S-130 and S-190), S-212 Chain Saws on the Fire Line, S-211 Wildland Fire Pumps, S-260 Business Operations, S-290 Advanced Fire Behavior, S-131 Crew boss/ Firefighter Type 1 and many more certifications including helicopter crew member to Dozer boss. All certifications are through the North Carolina Interagency Dispatch Center (US Forest Service).
Along with firefighting skills, Incident management is a necessity and our members come well trained with certifications in I-100 introduction to Incident Management, I-200 Basic Incident Management, I-300 Intermediate Incident Management and I-400 Advanced Incident Management.
Our members have dozens of firefighting assignments across the United States, including Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona as well as many other states across the U.S. Our Urban Interface Team consists of a Task-Force of a two Type 6 Engines (1307 and 1306), two Type 2 Engines (1301 and 1302) and 2 Water Tenders/Tankers (1303 and 1304) for water support.
We have been blessed to have been awarded several Grants to purchase equipment to support our team. Both Type 6 engines were awarded under a Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). All 45 sets of Personnel Protective Gear from head to toe were also awarded under AFG. Our continued maintenance of equipment for each apparatus on the Task-Force is funded through the North Carolina State Forest Service (Urban & Community Forestry Grant Program) each year in the amount of $5,000 annually.
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