CLARKSVILLE, TN – Clarksville Fire Rescue has reached a major milestone in the development of its Special Operations Division with the certification of seven members as Public Safety Divers, creating the department’s first-ever operational dive team.

CFR protects approximately 60 miles of waterways throughout its response area, including the Cumberland River, Red River, and West Fork River. One of the department’s primary goals is to provide the safest and fastest response possible to citizens when they need it most. The addition of an in-house Public Safety Dive Team allows CFR to rapidly deploy technical rescue and dive capabilities that were previously provided by outside agencies, reducing response times and expanding the department’s ability to respond to water-related emergencies.

The following members successfully completed the required public safety dive training through Waterdogs SCUBA & Safety LLC:

  • Assistant Chief of Special Operations Brandon McCurdy
  • Lieutenant Tyler Edlin
  • Lieutenant David Palmer
  • Lieutenant Dominic Poston
  • EMR Rob Bruce
  • Firefighter Taylor Anderson
  • Firefighter Matthew Summers

EMR Michael Roberge, who was already a certified Public Safety Diver, also serves as a member of the Clarksville Fire Rescue Dive Team.

Before beginning their public safety dive training, each member earned Advanced Recreational Diver certification. They then completed a series of specialized courses through Waterdogs SCUBA & Safety LLC under the instruction of Course Director Rich Holladay and Captain Seabrook Fields. The training included Emergency Response Diver Levels I and II, Contaminated Water Operations, Dry Suit Operations, Full Face Mask Operations, and Rescue Diver certification.

The comprehensive training prepares the team to respond to a variety of water emergencies, including search and rescue operations, recovery missions, and incidents involving contaminated water environments. The specialized certifications equip team members with the knowledge and skills to safely perform underwater operations in challenging conditions while operating as part of a coordinated emergency response team.

Course Director Rich Holladay praised the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by CFR throughout the training.

“Over the course of eight months, we had the distinct privilege of collaborating with some of the most exceptional first responders we have ever trained. The level of professionalism and care exhibited by these individuals was a testament to the reputation of our city and the Clarksville Fire Rescue as a whole. We were deeply fortunate to have the opportunity to assist them in preparing for any waterborne crisis that may arise in our region. Since [Waterdogs SCUBA & Safety LLC’s] establishment in 2013, we have eagerly anticipated the chance to work with a group of candidates of this caliber, and their performance exceeded our expectations. This team is fully prepared to respond promptly to any emergency and possesses a level of skill that is comparable to any team performing the critical mission of a certified Public Safety Diver.”

Assistant Chief of Special Operations Brandon McCurdy says establishing a dive team has been a long-term goal for CFR.

“When we started building the Special Operations Division, we had several disciplines to develop and equip, focusing first on areas where we had limited resources or where the risk was highest for our community,” McCurdy said.

Diving remained a priority, and late last year the department developed a plan to establish an operational dive team. In just eight months, members progressed from having no public safety dive certifications to becoming certified Emergency Response Level II Public Safety Divers.

“This accomplishment is a direct reflection of the dedication and commitment of our team members,” McCurdy said. “They completed hundreds of hours of training while continuing their normal firefighting duties, sacrificing time away from their families, and pushing through some challenging conditions, from winter training in water temperatures around 45 degrees to summer operations with air temperatures in the 90s.”

McCurdy says the team’s success was also made possible by the support of Chief Montgomery and the entire CFR organization. Scheduling, shift coverage, and operational support required a department-wide effort to allow members to complete the rigorous training while maintaining normal emergency response operations.

“While this is a major milestone, the work is not finished,” McCurdy said. “Our dive team will continue to train, develop, and improve our skills so we can provide the best possible service and response to the citizens we serve.”

Deputy Chief Jim Eley said the team’s accomplishment reflects years of strategic planning and the commitment of the department’s personnel.

“I cannot overstate the hard work and dedication these professional firefighters put into making the vision of a Clarksville Fire Rescue certified Public Safety Dive Team a reality,” Eley said. “I say professionals, because that’s what they are. We hold the men and women of CFR to high professional standards and expectations, and they always rise to the occasion to meet them.”

CFR’s investment in technical rescue capabilities has transformed its emergency response capabilities over the past several years.

“In just six years, we’ve gone from zero technical rescue or water response capabilities to having one of the premier Technical Rescue Squads and Swift Water Rescue/Public Safety Dive Teams in the State of Tennessee,” Eley said. “Everything we do at CFR improves our operational readiness and capabilities so that we can provide the gold-standard service the City of Clarksville deserves. I am so thankful for the leadership of Chief Montgomery, the support of Mayor Pitts and the City Council, and I am even more proud of what CFR does each and every day!”