Our disaster search teams must always be ready to answer the call, no matter where they are or what they are training for. This past week, New York Task Force 2 (NY-TF2) canine Echo put that readiness into action when a single-family home exploded in Rochester, NY.
At the time of the incident, NY-TF2 teams were in the Lake George area of the Adirondack Mountains, participating in a multi-agency swift water training event. With the Rochester site four hours away by road, time was critical. Thanks to the New York State Police Aviation Unit, the teams were transported by plane, cutting their travel time to just one hour.
Upon arrival, Handler Brook Rowley and Search Team Manager Greg Gould were briefed by the Rochester Fire Department.
To safely access the basement of the destroyed structure, the Rochester Fire Department Technical Rescue Team constructed a plank for Search Dog Echo, who conducted a thorough search of the area in just 12 minutes. Following Echo’s search, a New York State Police Human Remains canine also searched the structure. Thankfully, both searches confirmed that no victims were present in the building.
We are incredibly proud of how Echo and his teammates handled the mission. We also want to express our gratitude to the New York State Police Aviation Unit and the Rochester Fire Department for their partnership, which made it possible for our teams to get on-scene and perform their duties effectively.
Thank you to our supporters for keeping these teams ready to go at a moment’s notice.
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