The Fire Department's Technical Rescue Team (TRT) provides specialized equipment and trained personnel to respond to complex rescue situations for the City of Newport News. The NNFD TRT's current staffing consists of 14 individuals per shift for a total of 42 personnel. Primary vehicles available for specialized response include two staffed rescues, a medic unit, and a collapse truck, supported by additional fire department apparatus. The team is automatically dispatched to the following types of rescue / extrication situations: 

• Natural, Man-Made & WMD Disasters
• High Angle Rescues
• Trench and Excavation Collapses
• Transportation Accidents (Vehicle, Trains, Aircraft, Etc.)
• Structural Collapse Operations
• Confined and/or Closed Space Rescue
• Industrial and Construction Accidents

The NNFD TRT is one of several regional partners that participate in the Peninsula Regional Technical Rescue Team and the Tidewater Regional Technical Rescue Team. These are programs designed to coordinate special response assets associated with technical rescue to the citizens of the Hampton Roads and Middle Peninsula Region.  NNFD TRT is also involved with the National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System, established under the authority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 1989. This is a framework for structuring local emergency service personnel into integrated disaster response task forces.

FEMA US&R Virginia Task Force 2 is based out of Virginia Beach and has task force of 72-persons available for national missions on a moments notice. There are approximately 180 total members assigned on the task force. Task Force Specialists include firefighters and paramedics from Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, York County, James City County, Norfolk and local military installations' Fire Departments. Civilians are also deployed that include highly trained emergency room physicians, canine handlers, structural engineers, communication experts and heavy equipment & rigging specialists.