Members of Flagler County Fire Rescue were involved in the rescue of two horses in Volusia County on Wednesday. Four personnel were sent to assist after the horses became stuck in mud in the Dexter-Mary Farms Wildlife Management Area.
The FCFR’s Captain Karl Froling, Battalion Chief Brady Barry, and firefighter paramedics Zachary Suarez and Joseph Crane make up Technical Rescue Team (TRT) 312. They provided assistance to a TRT from Volusia County using specialized equipment to pull the horses to safety.
The rescue effort was fortunately successful, with both horses being evaluated after they were pulled from the mud. “The incident was resolved safely thanks to the coordinated efforts of both counties’ rescue teams,” FCFR Chief Michael Tucker said. “We maintain advanced training and dedicated equipment designed specifically for complex rescue situations involving large animals.”
According to a release from the Flagler County government, both departments have experience rescuing horses in the past. In 2016 a similar operation occurred in western Flagler, when a 24-year-old horse named Mercy became trapped after falling into a septic tank.
“This is why it is so important to have this type of training,” Tucker continued. “It’s not far-fetched to think that we will have to perform rescues like this.”
Captain Froling in particular has experience with horse rescues in both counties. In 2012, when he was employed by Volusia County Fire Rescue, Froling conducted a rescue alongside the University of Florida Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service (UF VETS). The program’s director, Brandi Phillips, has spoken to Froling’s dedication to the issue in the past.
“Rather than viewing this as an isolated challenge, Froling recognized a broader need – the lack of standardized training and equipment for animal technical rescue within the fire service,” Phillips said. “His proactive leadership led him to the University of Florida, where he established a partnership that has since transformed response capacity on the east coast of Florida and throughout the state.”
These words were part of a letter of recommendation last year for Froling to be named the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Search and Rescue Responder Officer of the Year. He was ultimately selected for the honor.
