Two firefighters from Jupiter Fire Rescue have been deployed to Venezuela as part of a larger FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force responding to earthquake relief efforts in the region. The deployment includes personnel from Jupiter, Delray Beach, and Palm Beach County fire departments, with a total task force of 80 members. The firefighters received their deployment orders with less than 24 hours notice and are expected to remain in Venezuela for at least two weeks.
The team's mission centers on search and rescue operations in collapsed structures, including both large buildings and smaller residential homes. To support this work, the firefighters brought specialized equipment designed for breaking through debris, cutting materials, breaching barriers, and stabilizing unsafe structures.
They also brought technical rope rescue tools to assist in extracting survivors from difficult-to-reach locations within damaged buildings.
Stephen Shaw, deputy fire chief of operations for Jupiter Fire Rescue, emphasized that the deployment demonstrates the department's core commitment to assisting people in crisis situations. "This right here represents one of these situations where they need help people need help and for us at Jupiter Fire Rescue, if someone needs help we go," Shaw said. He noted that international deployments like this one are part of the department's larger mission to support communities facing emergencies.
Shaw also highlighted how the deployment will benefit Jupiter Fire Rescue internally when the team returns home. The experience gained through working on rescue operations in Venezuela will provide valuable training and skill development for the firefighters involved. "And when they come back the learning that has taken place and the skills that they have been practicing is only going to benefit us internally as we continue to grow our fire department," Shaw said. The firefighters deployed on Sunday and are currently conducting active rescue operations in Venezuela.