Six Appleton and three Oshkosh firefighters have been deployed to Florida to help in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
The Appleton Fire Department is also sending two rescue boats to help with rescue operations.
The firefighters are part of a 35-member team representing Wisconsin Task Force-1 (WT-F1), the Appleton Fire Department said Monday.
"Here's an opportunity to go down to another part of the country that's having a very difficult time and utilize those skills that you've trained for years on to help those individuals," said Battalion Chief Joseph Strauss with the Appleton Fire Department.
WT-F1 is an urban search and rescue team.
FEMA requested the team be activated on September 10, and they are heading to Jacksonville, Florida to a staging area until they're needed.
The team members have special skills to help in areas of collapse rescue, hazardous materials and swift water rescues, the fire departments said.
The deployment is estimated to last two weeks.
