When natural disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit, Florida Task Force 1, an urban search and rescue team that Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) is among the first to respond.
The teams are ready for deployment 24 hours a day locally or nationally.
One of those firefighters is Captain Orestes Gonzalez, who’s volunteered on the team for 14 years.
“Whether it’s by land, air, or sea, we can move to any location to help those residents get back on their feet.” Captain Gonzalez said when describing MDFR’s role.
While deployed, the team is completely self-sufficient and able to handle almost anything from medical calls to hazmat situations.
