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Gold firefighter badge with "BTFD" at the top, "Fire" on the left, "Rescue" on the right, "Est. 1978" at the bottom, and a center image of a tree, water, and sunset. Text within says "Devoted to Duty Above Personal Risk.
The image displays the word "BLUFFTON" in capital letters with a gold-colored serif font on a white background.

Urban Search and Rescue

Trained to Find. Equipped to Save. Ready to Deploy.

SOUTH CAROLIAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TASK FORCE

Responding When the Unthinkable Happens

Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations play a critical role in large-scale emergencies affecting urban environments. Whether triggered by natural disasters or human-caused incidents, these events often leave people trapped in collapsed structures, stranded in floodwaters, or isolated by difficult terrain.

The South Carolina Emergency Response Task Force (SCERTF) is the state’s specialized USAR system. It consists of six total teams:

  • SC-TF1 – a Type 1 team comprised of highly trained responders from across South Carolina
  • Five regional teams, including SC-TF4, a joint unit made up of members from Bluffton Township Fire District and Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue

Together, these teams provide a coordinated, multidisciplinary response to complex emergencies such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, structural collapses, and terrorism-related incidents.

In 2024, SC-TF1 was deployed to Central Texas to assist with flood rescues — a testament to the team’s readiness to support not just South Carolina, but communities nationwide when called upon.

A group of firefighters in uniform stand outside a damaged apartment building entrance, which is supported by large wooden beams arranged in an "X" shape during a rescue or training operation.

Capabilities of South Carolina Emergency Response Task Force

SCERTF teams are trained and equipped to:

  • Locate, stabilize, and rescue trapped individuals
  • Operate in collapsed buildings and confined spaces
  • Conduct wide-area and flood-based search and rescue
  • Provide emergency medical support and hazardous environment assessments
  • Deploy as fully self-sustained units with specialized equipment, logistics, and command structures

Personnel come from a wide range of emergency service disciplines, including fire, EMS, law enforcement, and technical rescue specialties.

BTFD's Role: SC-TF4

The Bluffton Township Fire District (BTFD) proudly contributes skilled personnel to SC-TF4, the Bluffton/Hilton Head Island Regional Urban Search and Rescue team. Our members train regularly with responders across the state and stand ready to deploy independently as SC-TF4 or in support of SC-TF1.

As part of this robust statewide network, BTFD’s firefighters are equipped to respond wherever needed — from local incidents to statewide or national emergencies — to protect life, property, and community resilience.