Specialty Teams
The Romeoville Fire Department participates in several specialized regional response teams through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). These teams provide highly trained personnel, specialized equipment, and coordinated emergency response capabilities for incidents that exceed the scope of routine fire and EMS operations. Through regional cooperation, these teams allow departments to effectively manage complex, technical, and large-scale emergencies while sharing resources across multiple jurisdictions.
Water Rescue & Dive Team (MABAS Division 15)
The Romeoville Fire Department participates in the MABAS Division 15 Water Rescue and Dive Team, a regional team composed of specially trained personnel from multiple fire departments throughout the area. The team is equipped and trained to respond to a wide range of water-related emergencies involving lakes, rivers, ponds, retention basins, floodwaters, and other hazardous water environments.
Team members receive specialized training in:
- Surface water rescue
- Swift water and flood rescue operations
- Ice rescue
- Boat operations
- Diver rescue and recovery
- Underwater search operations
- Victim recovery and evidence recovery
The Water Rescue and Dive Team is responsible for locating, rescuing, and recovering victims who may be stranded, submerged, trapped, or injured in or around water. Dive operations may be conducted for victim recovery, evidence searches, vehicle submersion incidents, or other specialized underwater operations.
The team operates a 2012 Lake Assault fireboat, a purpose-built, mission-specific vessel designed for fire suppression, water rescue, and dive support operations. Lake Assault boats are constructed from high-strength marine-grade aluminum and are engineered specifically for fire and emergency response use. The fireboat extends the department’s ability to respond to emergencies on the waterways, within and surrounding the community.
The team also utilizes specialized underwater technology, including a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). The ROV is equipped with underwater cameras, lighting systems, and maneuvering controls that allow responders to conduct underwater searches, inspections, reconnaissance, and recovery operations in environments that may be unsafe or inaccessible for divers. The use of ROV technology enhances operational safety, improves search efficiency, and assists in locating submerged vehicles, victims, or evidence in low-visibility or hazardous conditions.
These incidents often require specialized boats, sonar equipment, dry suits, dive equipment, rope systems, flotation devices, and coordinated shoreline operations. Because water emergencies are inherently dangerous and technically challenging, the team operates under strict safety procedures and a coordinated incident command structure to protect both victims and responders during rescue and recovery operations.
Specialized Rescue Team (MABAS Division 15)
The Romeoville Fire Department participates in the MABAS Division 15 Specialized Rescue Team, a regional technical rescue team composed of specially trained firefighters from multiple departments throughout the area. The team is designed to respond to complex rescue incidents that require advanced technical skills and specialized equipment beyond normal fire department capabilities.
The Specialized Rescue Team is trained and equipped to manage incidents including:
- Rope rescue
- Confined space rescue
- Trench rescue
- Structural collapse rescue
- Machinery extrication
- High-angle rescue
- Heavy lifting and stabilization operations
Team members undergo extensive technical rescue training and routinely participate in regional exercises to maintain operational readiness. During large or technical incidents, the team works within an organized incident command structure to safely rescue trapped or endangered victims while minimizing risk to responders.
Hazardous Materials Team (MABAS Division 15)
The Romeoville Fire Department is a participating member of the MABAS Division 15 Hazardous Materials Team. This regional team consists of specially trained personnel who respond to incidents involving hazardous chemicals, toxic substances, flammable materials, and other dangerous environmental conditions.
The Hazardous Materials Team is responsible for:
- Identifying hazardous substances
- Monitoring air quality and contamination levels
- Containing and controlling chemical releases
- Performing technical decontamination
- Assisting with evacuations and public safety measures
- Supporting mitigation and environmental protection efforts
Hazardous materials incidents may include transportation accidents, industrial chemical releases, fuel spills, gas leaks, unknown substances, or incidents involving weapons of mass destruction concerns. Team members utilize specialized detection equipment, protective suits, reference databases, and containment tools to safely manage these high-risk events.
Fire Investigation Team (MABAS Divisions 10 & 15 / Will-Cook-Grundy County Fire Investigation Task Force)
The Romeoville Fire Department participates in regional fire investigation teams through MABAS Divisions 10 and 15, as well as the Will-Cook-Grundy County Fire Investigation Task Force. These teams are composed of specially trained fire investigators from multiple jurisdictions who work cooperatively to determine the origin and cause of fires and explosions.
Fire investigators respond to significant fires, suspicious incidents, fatal fires, and complex investigations requiring additional personnel or specialized expertise. Investigators conduct detailed scene examinations, collect evidence, document fire patterns, interview witnesses, and coordinate with law enforcement agencies, insurance representatives, and forensic laboratories when necessary.
The primary goals of the Fire Investigation Team are to:
- Determine the origin and cause of fires
- Identify accidental, natural, or incendiary causes
- Preserve and document evidence
- Assist in criminal investigations and prosecutions
- Improve firefighter and public safety through fire cause analysis
- Support community risk reduction and fire prevention efforts
Participation in these regional task forces allows the Romeoville Fire Department to access a broader network of trained investigators and specialized resources during large-scale or highly technical fire investigations.
