We have some exciting news to share! Seneca Hose, West Seneca Fire District #5 is officially going online as a FAST Team on Tuesday, July 15th, 2025!

A firefighter assist and search team (FAST), also known as a (rapid intervention team/rapid intervention crew, RIT/RIC), is a team of two or more firefighters dedicated solely to the search and rescue of other firefighters in distress.

Over the past year, our dedicated team has been training diligently to learn the techniques to operate as a FAST Team. Seneca Hose Ladder 6 and Rescue 5 have both been equipment with additional equipment specific to assist in FAST operations. Two major items are fastrescuesolutions FAST Boards, which are an extrication board to help efficiently move a downed Firefighter throughout a structure and RIT bags, which have a SCBA cylinder and multiple air connections to supply a downed Firefighter with Air in the event of an air emergency.
Hopefully these services are never needed in a real life situation, but our crews will be prepared if that need arises!