Arizona Task Force 1 returned to the Valley after 20 days supporting the relief efforts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The 45 response team members deployed to the southeastern U.S. were welcomed home Oct. 17 by family and colleagues.
Capt. Shaun Dubois of the Phoenix Fire Department said the “size and scope” of Helene and Milton’s destruction was different than previous incidents AZ-TF1 have aided.
“The geographical expanse from where they were (for) Helene all the way down to Milton, it was a massive operation,” Dubois told The Republic.
The task force conducted multiple search and rescue operations to find dead people or victims trapped in the debris of collapsed structures.
The team used a wide variety of skills and equipment during their time in the affected areas, Dubois said. They deployed canines, firefighters, hazardous material teams, boats and structural engineers.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency enlisted the help of other task force teams throughout the nation after the Category 4 and 3 storms made landfall.