About The Special Operations Bureau
The Bureau of Homeland Security/Special Operations was formed in September 2002 and is responsible for the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department’s preparedness and response capability to Chemical, Biological, Incendiary, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBIRN) Incidents. The bureau also oversees the department’s technical rescue programs and performs major event planning. In addition, members of the bureau manage state and federal grant programs and represent the department’s interests on several committees.
Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS)
The MMRS is funded by the federal government through the State of Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and is responsible for planning of operational mass care shelters and medical treatment facilities, radiological response, National Incident Management (NIMS) compliance, and prehospital patient management (triage, treatment, and transport). Lt. Victor Ellis and Lt. Gregory Tillman are the MMRS coordinators for Lucas County. Since 2004, Toledo Fire & Rescue Department has received $1,118,067 to support this program.
Region One Collapse Search & Rescue Team
The regional collapse search and rescue team was funded through the State Homeland security Grant Fund program and is designed to build a response capability for a structural collapse incident as a result of a natural, man-made, or terrorist event. Since 2003, the team has received $577,104.
Regional Hazardous Materials Response
The Ohio EMA through the State Homeland Security Grant program (SHSG) is funding Hazardous Material teams to build a NIMS Type I response capability in each of the eight State Homeland Security Planning Regions. The eighteen counties of Northwest Ohio make up Ohio’s Planning Region One. The Toledo Fire & Rescue Department has received $30,000 in FY 2007 SHSG and $125,000 in FY 2008 UASI funds for this program.
Region One Public Safety Dive Team
Toledo Fire & Rescue Department received $121,832 from FY 2005 UASI funds to build a public safety dive team with capabilities that include: diving in high hazard environments, surface supply capability, and the ability to conduct side scan sonar operations. The Region One Dive Team has assisted the United States Coast Guard, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Monroe County and Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Offices, and area fire departments in various operations since 2005.
Region One Swift Water/Flood Dive Team
Toledo Fire & Rescue Department received $14,000 in FY 2007 SHSG funds to purchase equipment to build a regional swift water rescue capability. In addition to the SHSG funds the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department contributed $2,377 to purchase a Jon boat and supplied an equipment trailer. The State of Ohio Water Rescue Technical Advisory Committee with funding from Ohio EMA provided swift water rescue technician level training to area firefighters.
Region One Radiological Response Team
Toledo Fire & Rescue Department is building a regional radiological team that is funded through MMRS. This team will be a component of the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department’s Hazardous Material team and will also respond as a component of the regional collapse search and rescue team.
Toledo Fire & Rescue Department’s Technical Rescue Teams
The Special Operations Bureau is responsible for the oversight of the department’s technical rescue teams and to ensure they are compliant with current NFPA standards.
Civilian Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Toledo Fire & Rescue Department in conjunction with the Lucas County Emergency Management Agency developed the Lucas County CERT Program in 2003. The CERT Program is responsible for training and preparing civilians to be able to self sustain and respond during disasters that might impact our community. The program has been sustained through funding from Ohio EMA and local businesses.
Committees
Members of the Special Operations Bureau represent the interests of the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department and the region on many committees. These include:
- Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council (ATAC) U.S. Attorney General’s Office
- Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
- UASI working group
- F.B.I. Joint Terrorism Task Force
- Hazardous Materials Technical Advisory Committee Ohio EMA
- Water Rescue Technical Advisory Committee Ohio EMA
- Harbor Safety Committee U.S.C.G.
- Citizen Corp Council EMA
The Special Operations Bureau is responsible for the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department’s preparedness and ability to recognize and respond appropriately to traditional and non-traditional threats within our community. Partnerships have been forged with several agencies, including area hospitals, health departments, county emergency management agencies, and police and fire departments within our region to ensure open exchange of information, ideas, planning and preparations that translate into a better prepared and safer community. The foundation of a system to identify, assess, prepare and respond to non-traditional threats to our community has been accomplished. The Special Operations Bureau staff will continue striving towards making the Toledo/Lucas County Metropolitan Area a disaster resistant community.
Special Operations Bureau Staff
Assistant Chief John Kaminski was appointed to the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department on July 11, 1997. He was promoted to Lieutenant on June 11, 2007 and promotion to Captain came on July 9, 2010. Promotion to Battalion Chief was on March 15, 2013 and Deputy Chief on May 27, 2016.
Chief Kaminski was promoted to the Assistant Chief on November 2, 2018. During his career he has been assigned to Stations 7 and 17, as well as assignments as the Wheel Officer, Staff Safety Officer, and Captain of the Bureau of Professional Standards.
Assistant Chief Kaminski earned an Associates Degree in Business Management from Owens Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration from Bowling Green State University. In 2017, Chief Kaminski completed his master’s degree in Emergency Management/Homeland Security from Arizona State University. Assistant Chief Kaminski is currently responsible for Homeland Security/Special Operations, Emergency Preparedness, and the Training Bureau.
Battalion Chief Michael Posadny was appointed to the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department on September 11, 1992. He promoted to Lieutenant on November 7, 2005. His promotion to Captain came on March 21, 2014 and was promoted to Battalion Chief on February 26, 2021. Battalion Chief Posadny received his Paramedic certification on November 21, 2016.
Battalion Chief Posadny is currently assigned to Special Operations Bureau.
Special Operations Bureau
545 N. Huron
Toledo, Ohio 43604
Phone: 419-936-2647
Fax: 419-245-1297