Fort Buchanan Firefighters Complete Historic Joint Technical Rescue Training with Puerto Rico Emergency Agencies
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DVIDS - GeorgiaAssistant Fire Chief Hector Rivera said the course represented a major step forward in joint rescue capability.
“This historic initiative marks the first time Fort Buchanan firefighters have trained directly alongside state, municipal and non‑profit rescue organizations in this highly technical discipline,” Rivera said. “It’s a milestone for our entire emergency response community.”
Hosted by the San Juan and Guaynabo Offices for Emergency Management (OMME), the course prepared first responders for lifesaving operations during earthquakes and large‑scale disasters. Four Fort Buchanan personnel — Fire Inspector Wilfred Rivera, Firefighter Jesus Mercado, Firefighter A. Gonzalez and Rivera — joined responders from Carolina, Bayamón, Loíza, municipal police departments, non‑profit emergency teams and local volunteers.
Over five days at Guaynabo’s municipal disaster‑simulation facility, firefighters tackled multi‑story concrete structures, confined spaces, rubble fields and vehicle crash zones. Participants executed advanced techniques including concrete breaching and cutting, structural shoring, confined‑space navigation, atmospheric monitoring, high‑angle rope rescue and complex vehicle extrication.
Rivera emphasized that the training built more than just technical skills.
“By mastering advanced disciplines together, we broke down inter‑agency barriers and established one unified technical rescue language,” he said. “When disaster strikes, that shared language will save lives.”
He added that the joint training directly enhances Fort Buchanan’s on‑post readiness.
“This course creates an elite rescue capability here at Fort Buchanan,” Rivera said. “Our firefighters can now provide immediate, lifesaving protection to Soldiers, families and civilians during earthquakes, hurricanes or severe infrastructure failures.”
The collaboration also strengthened Puerto Rico’s broader emergency network. By operating shoulder‑to‑shoulder with municipal and state partners, Fort Buchanan responders established trust and coordination essential for rapid crisis response.
Rivera said the partnership reflects the installation’s commitment to the surrounding community.
“Technical rescue requires trust, teamwork and shared expertise,” he said. “This effort proves we are ready — together — to protect the Fort Buchanan community and our Puerto Rican neighbors during their most critical moments.”
The initiative reinforces the Army’s role as a prepared, reliable and engaged partner in Puerto Rico. Through this training, federal, state and municipal responders strengthened a unified rescue framework built to respond quickly and effectively to future disasters.
With an annual budget exceeding $500 million, Fort Buchanan supports about 15,000 active-duty personnel, Soldiers of the Army Reserve and Puerto Rico National Guard, Marine Corps Reserve members and Navy Reserve personnel, providing infrastructure and services that enable forces to train, mobilize and deploy worldwide.
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