A Phoenix Fire Department task force is ready to head to Florida when and if the time comes. In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, a 70-member crew is on standby to assist in everything from water rescues to pulling victims out of collapsed buildings and evacuations.
Phoenix Fire Deputy Chief Scott Grane said the team is ready to go as the department is number three or four in line for activation by FEMA.
“If we were activated, we would (need) four hours to actually be on the road, if we were deployed over the road," Grane said. "If we are deploying by air, we would have to be at the point of departure within six hours.”
The last hurricane this task force was called in to assist with was Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
