Team 636
Instructors
Lionel Harrison
Team Leader
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City of Bradenton Fire Department
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About Me:
I’m Lionel Harrison, a member of the Bradenton Fire Department for ten years, currently serving as a Lieutenant and a member of the Technical Rescue Team 636 for the past nine years. For the last three years, I've had the privilege of leading TRT 636. Since merging with the North River Fire District two years ago, I've worked closely with Chief Baker to develop our team to what we have today. Our goal at TRT 636 is to provide top-tier training, benefiting not only our team but all firefighters and departments eager to participate and learn. If you are looking for top-notch classes and instruction, you have come to the right place. The cadre of Team636 instructors is highly trained, motivated, and hungry to pass along their knowledge.
Certifications
• Fire Officer 2
• Instructor 2
• Fire Inspector
• FLUSAR Rescue Specialist
• Swiftwater Instructor
• A.S. in Fire Science Technology
• Enrolled in UF's Bachelor’s program for Fire and Emergency Management
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Joel Baker
Lead Instructor​
North River Fire District
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About Me:
I began my career in the Fire Service as a volunteer in 2004 and then accepted a paid professional position in 2005 at the North River Fire District. I have held every position on the operational side of the fire service ( Firefighter, Driver/Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, Training Officer, and Special Ops Coordinator) and am now on the Administration side, where I have the pleasure of supporting operations and serving our great members as the Assistant Fire Chief. I spent over a decade in Local 2546 where I held the role of union steward and later, Assistant to the President, which allowed me to operate in a business agent capacity to help manage issues amongst the local. I believe that our members are the most important asset in the organization and that administrations purpose is to provide them with everything they need to do their jobs exceptionally (Servant Leadership).
I have been married to my wife (Bri) for almost ten years now, we have two boys (Caleb & Logan). We enjoy everything outdoors, traveling, anything on the water, snowboarding/skiing, and being out west.
"If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you"
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20 + Years in the Fire Service
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B.S. Degree in Fire Department Administration
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Paramedic
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Fire Instructor III
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FLUSAR Instructor
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SPRAT Certified Level 1
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DoD Subject Matter Expert
Michael Davila
Instructor​
North River Fire District
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About Me:
Hello my name is Michael Davila. I am an engineer with the North River Fire District and active member of Florida LTRT 636. I have been in fire/ems for ten years and enjoy every aspect of the job. I have been a FLUSAR Specialist for four years and currently serve as a shift rep for LTRT 636. I am a Medical Team Specialist, SPRAT Certified Rope Technician, and Swiftwater technician. I was born and raised in West Bradenton and went to college/worked in the Central Florida area before returning home to the North River Fire District. My favorite part about instructing is being around enthusiastic peers/students who continuously raise the standard.
You don’t have to get ready if you stay ready!
Charlie Childress
Instructor​
North River Fire District
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About Me:
Firefighter/EMT
FLUSAR Rescue Specialist
Fire Instructor 2
Fire Officer 2
AS Degree in Fire Science
BS Degree in Fire Department Administration
Firefighter/EMT serving Manatee county since 2005. In my down time I love spending time with my family, going to the beach, and mountain biking. I’m currently finishing up paramedic school and I’m constantly in a state of learning and growing. I love teaching firefighters and sharing my knowledge and experiences with all.
Donald Bunch
Instructor​
North River Fire District
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About Me:
For the past 14 years, I've had the privilege of serving at North River Fire District, with some of the highest quality men and women in the fire service, and the last 9 of those years I’ve been a member of our Technical Rescue Team. While I'm proud of my professional journey, I believe that every day is an opportunity for growth, and I always look forward to a good challenge.
Family is my cornerstone. I've been married to my wonderful wife, Kara, for a decade now. We're blessed with three amazing children – Jaxson, 8, who's never short on questions or ideas; Cameron, 5, our ball of fire; and Kennedy, our 2-year-old Queen of the house. Balancing family with career is a constant lesson in the true meaning of patience, resilience, and joy.
In work, family, or training, my approach is simple – Stay Humble. I believe in sharing
experiences candidly and honestly, and cultivating an environment where empathy, humility, and dedication are as highly valued as technical skills.
Mathew Redmond
Instructor​
North River Fire District
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About Me:
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Hello, my name is Matt Redmond. I am a Captain at North River Fire District and an active member, of the LTRT team 636. I started my career as a volunteer at NRFD in 2009 and got hired in 2010. I worked as a firefighter until I was promoted to a driver/engineer in 2014. I then got involved with the LTRT aspect of the job and never looked back. I am a FLUSAR specialist, SPRAT Certified Rope Technician, & a Swift water technician. In 2017 I was promoted to Captain and currently work at Station 2 on Truck 523. I am the B shift FTO and serve as the shift representative for Team 636.
Jason Maddams
Instructor​
Charlotte County Fire & EMS
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About Me:
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My name is Jason Maddams, Ive been in the fire service for 10 years and currently employed with Charlotte County Fire and EMS at the rank of Lieutenant. I have been part of Special Operations since 2015. I acquired FLUSAR specialist in 2016 which led to me begin instructing TRT classes in 2018.
Since then, I have taught multiple classes across all disciplines. I recently acquired lead instructor for Swiftwater Rescue Technician. I also instruct as a sub-contractor for the DoD as a subject matter expert in TRT and search and extraction.
Teaching is a passion of mine. Fire service careers are short and come and go in the blink of an eye, and I fully believe in passing on all knowledge to help students grow and understand the TRT craft.
“Champions are made, when no one is looking”.
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10 years of fire service
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7 years special operation team member
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FLUSAR series technician Instructor
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Swiftwater technician Instructor
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SPRAT Certified Rope Technician
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DoD Subject Matter Expert
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Senior Instructor at Team Blacksheep TRT, LLC
Justin White
Instructor​
North River Fire District
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About Me:
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I’ve been with North River for 17 years and have been an Engineer for the last 13 years, 9 of which have been spent on our ladder truck. For the last 9 years I have been on our TRT team. I am a state certified FLUSAR Specialist and Hazmat tech. I have always been interested in the technical rescue aspect of the fire service, especially the VMR side. I am excited to start teaching and sharing my knowledge and experience with those interested in learning about the technical rescue side of the fire service.
