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Congratulations to the Coral Gables Fire Department Rapid Intervention Team Competition team for their 2nd place finish at the Fort Lauderdale Fire Expo.
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A Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) is an OSHA-required team of two or more firefighters dedicated solely to the search and rescue of other firefighters in distress, whether trapped or incapacitated. The RIT team's job, if needed, is usually the most physically taxing as well as dangerous, since they are often required to get fellow firefighters out of what is already considered to be a compromised situation. The Coral Gables Fire Department established its first-ever RIT competition team 2 years ago, with the intention of improving department procedures and skill level in dealing with potential RIT scenarios. The RIT competition team has worked tirelessly for the past 2 years training the entire Coral Gables Fire Department on all the latest RIT techniques and preparing for various RIT competitions. After just 2 years of competing, the Coral Gables RIT team recently placed 2nd in the Fort Lauderdale Fire Expo RIT challenge. This competition represents Fire Departments from all over Florida. Team members consist of Incident Commander Lieutenant Christopher Mendizabal, Firefighters Dean James Jr., Patrick Gould, Miguel Cabrera, Manuel Flor, and Carlos Rivera.
Attached is a video of the CGFD RIT Team competing at the Fort Lauderdale Expo.