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Rescue Dogs Called Into Duty

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By VALERIE KALFRIN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 7, 2007

TAMPA - Three search-and-rescue dogs from the Tampa Bay area went to Jacksonville on Thursday to help rescuers searching a collapsed parking garage.

Tampa Fire Rescue Lt. Roger Picard, Lt. Brian Smithey and Driver Engineer Patrick Murphy rolled out of the agency's downtown headquarters about 9:45 a.m. with their black Labradors, Cinder, Powder and Ranger.

The team, along with St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue Capt. Alan Rosetti, arrived in Jacksonville Thursday afternoon to search, Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said.

One construction worker was unaccounted for in the collapse, which occurred about 6 a.m. as workers poured concrete on the sixth floor of the garage for a riverfront condominium complex across the street from the Jacksonville sheriff's office.

The front half of the garage collapsed, leaving the skeleton of the back half standing. A massive piece of concrete leaned against the portion still standing.

Twelve men and one woman were taken to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Kelly Brockmeier said. Of those, two were in serious condition, 10 were in good condition and one was in fair condition. Some of those in good condition left the hospital, but Brockmeier did not know how many.
Baptist Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Barrow said her hospital had three patients. Two have been released and the other was in good condition.

St. Vincent's Medical Center spokesman Erik Kaldor said it also received three injured workers. One was admitted in fair condition, another was treated and released and a third was still being evaluated.

Misty Skipper, Mayor John Peyton's spokeswoman, said early searches of the perimeter and top of the collapsed structure were complete.

"Our efforts will continue until we are certain there is no one trapped," Skipper said.

The Bay area crew was dispatched Thursday morning as part of Florida Task Force 3, which includes Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, Wade said.

The Tampa dogs and handlers also are affiliated with Florida Task Force 2 from Miami so they can be dispatched by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to disasters nationwide. Tampa's dogs worked the World Trade Center collapse, the aftermath of each hurricane in Florida since 2001, and in Biloxi, Miss., and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

One of their trucks includes a small generator to ensure the dogs don't lose air conditioning. It also has a carbon monoxide detector for safety.

Smithey said the team has packed food, treats and toys for the dogs for a few days. This is not a large-scale disaster such those wrought by hurricanes, so the team can buy supplies in Jacksonville, he said.

The team doesn't know how long it will be gone, Smithey said. For an extended search, the handlers must double the dogs' meals because the animals lose weight during the work, he said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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