TPSTA is a rescue squad maintaining a cadre of highly qualified subject-matter experts who volunteer their time and capabilities to serve as members of our Rescue Task Force. These members along with our resources deploy during federal, state, and local disasters to augment incident-command-post positions, provide support capabilities, and supplement personnel shortages with highly qualified manpower.
Hurricane response, severe-weather standup, and multi-agency mutual-aid mobilization.
Wildland-qualified firefighters and apparatus for state, county, and ICS-requested deployments.
High-water rescue (vehicles + boats), search support, fire watch, and incident-command augmentation.
Departments, ESDs, and emergency-management agencies can request RTF support through Texas Emergency Management or directly via the contacts below.
Every entry below was a real activation by an Incident Commander, county judge, or state agency - not a drill. Photos from the line, on-scene.
TPSTA Wildland Firefighters were requested for assistance on the Hudson Fire by the Incident Commander in November of 2024. TPSTA deployed firefighters and units to Paige, Texas to provide assistance to local fire departments for several days in support roles.
In February 2023 TPSTA staff responded to Winter Storm Mara which impacted Travis and Williamson counties. Personnel provided traffic control, debris removal, first aid, and fire watch services across the affected area.
TPSTA Rescue Task Force personnel assisted by providing wildland firefighters and medical personnel for manpower during the Rolling Pines Fire of January 2022. The wildfire occurred in Bastrop State Park and consumed more than 800 acres of land.
In August of 2021 TPSTA Rescue Task Force personnel were requested and deployed to New Orleans, Louisiana in response to Hurricane Ida. Assets were mobilized immediately upon hitting the ground - conducting rescues and other public safety assistance. TPSTA team members ran high-water rescues using vehicles and boats, escorted members of the media safely through flooded areas, and provided fire watch for buildings without power. Hurricane Ida was the second most damaging hurricane in history to strike the state of Louisiana.
In 2020 TPSTA deployed a team of subject-matter experts in multiple areas of public safety to the hurricane impacted area. This team provided critical services including fire watch, rescue, staging-area management, and assisted with evacuations of persons.
The RTF is built from volunteers who already hold credentials - wildland fire, EMS, swift-water rescue, ICS-position qualified, and other public-safety specialties. If that's you, we want your name on the call-out roster.
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