Minimum Requirements to Apply 

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You must live in Suffolk County and be a member of either the Suffolk County Volunteer Fire Service or a Suffolk County Volunteer Ambulance Corp. to participate with SCUS&R.  

 

There are minimum activity levels established and communicated each year for SCUS&R events.  Members are expected to meet these minimum activity levels to remain deployable with SCUS&R.  Additionally, members must be available for an initial response deployment of 72 hours if activated.
 

The following are the minimum certification levels required of new applicants to the Suffolk County Urban Search & Rescue Team.  Members who do not have these certifications MUST commit to completing them prior to April 1st, 2026, or applicants will not be considered at this time and are encouraged to obtain them through the Suffolk County Fire Academy, NYS OFPC, and/or FEMA EMI and re-apply during the next application period.

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ICS 100

ICS 200

ICS 700

ICS 800b

HazMat Ops

Confined Space Awareness

Trench Rescue Awareness

Basic Structural Collapse Operations

Water Rescue Awareness

CPR/AED

Blood-borne Pathogens

 

Application Submission Process

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1. Read the ENTIRE process carefully before you fill out an application. 

2. Determine if you have met the minimum criteria listed above. If Yes, proceed. If No, please sign up for these courses using the links located on our Resources Page, and apply during the next cycle.

3. Gather your certifications listed above as PDFs on your computer, along with a copy of the front and back of your driver’s license or New York State ID. 

4. Complete the online application. 

5. Applications will be screened by a panel of Task Force Command Staff Members. Those members who have met the minimum requirements AND could potentially fill a needed role on the Task Force will be invited to participate in an interview. 

6. Prior to your interview, you will be provided with a SCUS&R Agency Authorization Form.  This form must be completed by your sponsoring Fire/EMS agency and submitted along with a copy of your most recent Department/Agency medical.  Failure to fulfill these requirements prior to your interview will result in removal from the process.

7. Attend the interview and Task Force Orientation. 

 

Upon successful completion of the interview panel, the applicant is considered a probationary member and is added to the Suffolk County Urban Search & Rescue Task Force Roster and communications system.