Blackhawk helicopters will be landing at Lake Technical Center’s Institute of Public Safety (IPS) in Tavares. The Florida Task Force Four (FL-TF4) Urban Search and Rescue Team, made up of fire fighters from Lake, Orange, and Seminole Counties, will land two Florida National Guard Blackhawk helicopters, on November 3rd at 10:30 a.m. The group will be on the IPS campus until approximately 1:00 p.m. as part of their mobilization training for disaster responses. Two Lake Technical Center Fire Fighter Academy instructors are part of the team that is responding. Lake Technical Center’s Fire Academy offers the 450-hour Fire Fighter basic recruit program. The Academy also offers fee-based classes for Fire Fighter Advanced Training, including USAR Training, Fire Officer I & II, and Pump Operator.
The FL-TF4 Urban Search and Rescue team is available 24 hours a day for the State of Florida and other agencies. Urban search and rescue is considered a “multi-hazard” discipline, as it may be needed for a wide range of emergencies or disasters including: earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, terrorist activities, etc.