Osceola County Fire Rescue & EMS Welcomes Heavy Rescue 1 Into Service
Published on June 04, 2026
FPR26-10
The department celebrated its newest special operations apparatus during a ceremony at NeoCity.
Osceola County, Florida – Osceola County Fire Rescue & EMS joined the Board of County Commissioners, County leadership, community representatives and public safety partners to celebrate the department’s newest special operations apparatus, Heavy Rescue 1, going into service.
A 42-foot fully custom Sutphen heavy rescue apparatus, Heavy Rescue 1 will serve as the centerpiece of OSCFR’s multi-disciplinary special operations program. The apparatus serves as a “toolbox on wheels” for firefighters, carrying highly specialized equipment designed for responding to complex hazardous materials (HazMat) and technical rescue emergencies.
“Heavy Rescue 1 is a fantastic resource that represents the very best of what our firefighters are capable of,” said Board of County Commissioners Chairman and District 3 Commissioner Brandon Arrington. “More than the sum of its parts, it is an active reminder that Osceola County Fire Rescue is ready and able to respond when our community needs them – both now and in the future.”
Joining existing special operations apparatus Squad 62 in Buenaventura Lakes and Squad 53 in Deer Run, Heavy Rescue 1 allows for greater efficiency in responding to specialized incidents. By operating County-wide, Heavy Rescue 1 also reduces the necessity for other apparatus to operate outside of their first-due response area - improving the department’s overall level of service across the entire Osceola County community.
“I am so very excited to see this next step in the special operations program come to fruition here today,” said Fire Chief Larry Collier. “This is a program that has its roots back to the late 90’s. It has had several different levels of capabilities and has utilized various models of deployment to provide specially trained and equipped personnel to serve the community in unique circumstances. This step is a testament to the continued support of the BOCC and the guidance of the County Manger to the future vision of public safety in Osceola County. We look forward to being an asset to those organizations that would like to be First to What’s Next.”
While its response area is County-wide, Heavy Rescue 1 will be housed at Station 45 on Calypso Cay Way. The apparatus is staffed 24/7 by 4 special operations firefighters, who undergo hundreds of hours of specialized training prior to being assigned to the unit.
The department officially welcomed Heavy Rescue 1 into service this morning with a special ceremony at NeoCity, where the apparatus received a traditional “wetdown” from Squad 62 and Squad 43 to signify its continuity as the newest part of the special operations program.