2024 World Rescue Challenge Champions

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s (MDFR) Blackheart Extrication and Trauma Teams became 2024 World Rescue Challenge Champions after competing in Portugal. This is the first time in the events' 25-year history that the same team earns both the title of best overall Extrication Team and best overall Trauma Team.

The World Rescue Challenge is one of the premier international forums for emergency response professionals. It pushes participants through rigorous, real-world scenarios to test their skills in vehicle extrication, trauma care and incident command.

This year, the event was held in Azores, Portugal where MDFR’s Blackhearts competed alongside elite rescue teams from all over the globe.

“Our Blackheart teams have set a new global standard for excellence in rescue and trauma response,” MDFR Fire Chief, Raied Ray Jadallah said. “We are immensely proud of the team's historic achievement. Their success at the World Rescue Challenge is a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering the highest standards of emergency care, whether in a competition setting or when responding to the needs of our community.”

Highly skilled in technical rescue, urban search and rescue and emergency medical services, the Blackheart teams dominated several critical events.

The Extrication Team earned:

• First place - Overall Extrication Team
• First place - Incident command, Firefighter Brandon Post
• First place - Triage scenario
• Second place - Physical entrapment

The Trauma Team earned:

• First place - Overall trauma
• First place - Trauma standard
• Second place - Trauma complex

Established to enhance training in vehicle rescue, the Blackheart Extrication Team aims to increase efficiency and save the lives of those involved in motor vehicle accidents. The champion team members include MDFR firefighters Brandon Post, Maggie Castro, Andrew Silverman, Casey Sticco and Nicholas Ryan, along with MDFR lieutenants Renzo Urzola and Desi Monteavaro.

"We tirelessly train for these competitions, knowing we’ll be competing alongside the best teams in the world,” Firefighter Maggie Castro, a member of the Blackheart Extrication team said. “The goal of this competition is to utilize and test our skills, which are then applied to real-life emergency situations. This victory belongs to our entire department and the Miami-Dade community that motivates us every day. We hope it inspires others in the field to continually push for excellence.”

Congratulations to the 2024 World Rescue Challenge Champions.