Pulaski County Special Operations Team

04/30/2026

04/20/2026

02/03/2026

2/3/26 Special Operations Team members from Pulaski County Fire & Rescue took advantage of the icy conditions at Claytor Lake State Park to get in some ice rescue training.
Luckily it’s not something we face often but it is a risk we must be able to respond to if needed.
There were signs of persons being on the ice at some point since the recent snow fall.

09/16/2025

At 2135 on 09/15/2025 Special Operations Team were requested to assist Fire & EMS units with the rescue of a subject that had been ejected during an off roading vehicle accident.
The incident occurred in a mountainous area off of Parrott River Road and required the use of a short haul ropes system to bring the subject up a steep and rocky incline.
The subject was then transported off the mountain by UTVs to an EMS unit then transported to a nearby LZ and flown to a medical facility with serious injuries. All units cleared by midnight.

09/06/2025

Congratulations to the 18 Swiftwater Rescue Swimmers and candidates for completing the newly implemented State Swiftwater Rescue swim test.
The test is required to become a swiftwater rescue swimmer and must be done annually to remain current as a rescue swimmer.
Team members completed the four task with only short breaks between each task.
A BIG Thanks to the Pulaski YMCA for allowing us to use their pool facility for the training.

07/19/2025

7/18/25: At the request of Carroll County Emergency Services, 5 of our team members responded to Carroll County with our high water vehicle and support truck this evening to assist with flash flooding.
Our members staged at Hillsville Fire Dept. station 1 along with resources from Laurel Fork Fire Department to provide surge compacity if needed. Resource’s from Carroll County and the City of Galax removed a total 9 subjects from the flooded areas. Glad we were able to assist.

07/08/2025

Do your part to keep you and your loved ones safe as well as our first responders by signing up to receive CodeRed Alerts.
You can do so from the Pulaski County website under Pulaski County Emergency Management.

Following severe flooding in Texas, there has been some criticism and questions about the weather alert systems in place there.

05/04/2025

5/03/25 At 1352 team members responded for a kayaker who became separated from his kayak while coming through the rapids near the Rt. 114
Bridge on the New River.
The boat team safely removed the subject from the water and transported to EMS care on shore. The subject was transported to a local hospital for a possible arm injury.
The Sheriff’s Office Drone Team provided overwatch for our crews.