Marine Services Bureau
The Marine Services Bureau (MSB) oversees the day to day operations, logistical functions, research and development and in-house training related to the following programs:
- Fireboat Operations
- Rapid Response Vessels
- Personal Water Craft
- Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats
- Shallow Water Mud-Boats
- Airboat Operations
- Swift Water/Flood Water Response
- High Axle Vehicle
- Oversight of the Ocean Rescue Bureau
- Oversight of the Dive Rescue Bureau
The Ocean Rescue Bureau (ORB) is composed of over 90 lifeguards who serve and protect the beaches of Miami-Dade County at Crandon Park Beach and Haulover Beach. MDFR ORB provides mutual aid to surrounding beaches that are not staffed with full-time lifeguards when requested.
The Dive Rescue Bureau oversees the over 450 Scuba Rescue Authorized (SRA) Divers that are an integral part of our emergency response to water related incidents in Miami-Dade County. Each front-line unit is fully outfitted with a minimum of two sets of full dive gear to assist in water related emergencies.
The Marine Services Bureau provides logistical support and training to the two operational fireboats (FB) that are staffed 24/7 and ready to respond within seconds. FB-21 & FB-73 protect and patrol the waterways of Miami-Dade County while responding to any incident/accident within our jurisdiction when hailed through VHF CH-16 or by calling 911. FB-21 & FB-73 also respond as requested by our Local, State, and Federal Maritime Partners.
The MSB oversees the four airboat’s that are operated by the Department which respond to emergencies in the over 1,400 Square Miles of Florida Everglades that are in Miami-Dade County. The MSB is responsible for the Departments Flood Response which include specialized High Axle Vehicles, Shallow Water Mud-Boats, Inflatable Swift-water boats, and Flood trailers that carry Jon-Boats to be used as Lily-Pads during flood events in Miami-Dade County.
The waterways within MDFR’s service area include beaches, shoreline, Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay, Port Miami, Miami-River Port, Fisher Island/Trans-Mountain Fuel Farm, Intercostal Waterway (ICW), Florida Everglades, and a multitude of inland lakes, bays, and canals.
The Marine Services Bureau has an extensive Hazardous Materials Maritime Response Plan in place to respond and protect against any waterborne emergency that might threaten our sensitive ecological marine environment and the coral reef in Biscayne Bay and theAtlantic Ocean.
Fire Rescue
Raied "Ray" Jadallah
R. David Paulison Fire Rescue Headquarters
9300 NW 41st Street,
Miami, FL 33178-2414
786-331-5000