Chenango County
Office of Emergency Services

Report an Arson

Special Teams

The Chenango County Office of Emergency Services provides various "Special Operations" teams to departments within the County. These teams can provide support and resources such as equipment, technical advice or a team response to work with the agencies. The teams are manned by volunteers who obtain additional training and skills to perform on the County Team. This is in addition to the local departments that they serve in.


Information about any of the Special Teams can be obtained by contacting Deputy Fire Coordinator-Supervisor of Special Teams Harold Ives, by email or phone 607-327-0963.

Click here for an applicationfor the Special Operations Teams.

Click on any of the tabs below for team specific news and events.

Haz Mat Team

The Chenango County Office of Emergency Servicess' Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Team is a support agency for the Fire Service. The Hazmat team responds to any call that may involve hazardous chemicals or incidents in which the local responders need assistance.

Completely comprised of volunteers. The Hazmat team is comprised of members from Norwich Pharmaceuticals Inc. and numerous Fire Departments from around the County. All members of the Hazmat team are trained to the to the level of "Hazardous Materials Technician" with a majority of them also training in "Bio Terrorism, as a result of September 11, 2001. Some members of the team are given additional training as Chemists.

Hazmat Team
Hazmat Team

If you are interested in learning more or joining our Hazardous Materials Team, please contact Deputy Fire Coordinator-Supervisor of Special Teams Harold Ives, by email or phone 607-327-0963.

High Angle Rescue

The High Angle Team supports the County Fire Departments with Specilized Rope Rescue and Confined Space Rescue. Members of the Team have areas of training for Confined space, High Angle and Low Angle Rope Rescue.


If you have any questions, please contact Deputy Fire Coordinator-Supervisor of Special Teams Harold Ives, by email or phone 607-327-0963.

Search & Rescue

The Chenango County Office of Emergency Servicess' Search and Rescue Team is a support agency for the fire service. The Search and Rescue team responds to any call involving a lost or missing person or persons. They may also respond Mutual Aid to assist out of county agencies as well.

The Search and Rescue Team is comprised of volunteers from local Fire and EMS squads through out Chenango County. They assist the New York State Forrest Rangers, who coordinate all Searches.

All members of the Search and Rescue Team must take the Wildland Search and Rescue course, and the Map and Compass course. Experienced members can further their training by taking the Crew Boss course. This level of training allows individuals who complete it, to be in charge of actual search crews, while they are deployed in the field.


2016 Search Training:

  • March 7 at Guilford FD  6 PM
  • May 12 at McDonough FD 6 PM
  • June 6 at FTC 6 PM
  • Sept 24 or 25th TBD
  • October 13 Afton FD 6 PM
  • Nov 7  Plymouth FD  6 PM
  • Jan 11 2017 - 7 PM  Norwich Area.

If you are interested in joining the team, or have questions on the training, please contact Deputy Coordinator Harold Ives or any of the Search and Rescue Team officers listed above.

Water Rescue & Recovery

The Chenango County Office of Emergency Servicess' Water Rescue and Recovery (Dive) Team is a support agency for the Fire Service. The Water Rescue and Recovery Team responds to any calls that may involve Surface, Subsurface Water or Ice rescue incidents in which the local responders need assistance.

The Water Rescue and Recovery team is comprised of members from numerous Fire Departments from around the County. Members certification includes: Diver, Swift water rescue, Boat handler, Ice Rescue and Shore Support.


If you are interested in joining the team, or have questions on the training, please contact Deputy Coordinator Harold Ives.