A man wearing sunglasses, a black quilted jacket with fire department patches, and cargo pants, standing outdoors near a pile of wood and some parked cars.

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USAR

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Safety

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Paramedic

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Heavy Rescue

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Peer Support

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K9 Search & Rescue

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Swift Water

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Police

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Technical Rescue

〰️ USAR 〰️ Safety 〰️ Paramedic 〰️ Heavy Rescue 〰️ Peer Support 〰️ K9 Search & Rescue 〰️ Swift Water 〰️ Police 〰️ Technical Rescue

Major Dane Yaw

Major Dane Yaw has dedicated nearly three decades to public safety—serving with distinction across law enforcement, EMS, technical rescue, and fireground leadership. His career began in 1995 as a Police Paramedic before he “crossed to the dark side” and joined the Oklahoma City Fire Department in 1999.

Promoted to Sergeant in 2005, Dane served as an EMS Training Officer and helped develop Oklahoma Task Force 1’s Live-Find K-9 program, where he and his partner, Salsa, earned 2nd place in the Iron Dog competition in New York. His USAR background includes roles as Medical Specialist, K-9 Search Specialist, Squad Boss, and Safety Officer, supported by advanced certifications in Rescue Dive, Swift Water, Confined Space, Structural Collapse, Trench, and Rope Rescue disciplines.

Dane’s leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence have earned him multiple honors—most notably the Oklahoma City Fire Department Meritorious Service Award, recognizing his outstanding professionalism, technical skill, and service to both the citizens and firefighters of Oklahoma City.

Following assignments with Special Operations’ Heavy Rescue 8, Dane promoted to Captain and Station Officer at several of the city’s busiest companies—including Station 1 (Downtown) and Station 6 (Bricktown). He now serves as Station Officer at Station 31 and Chief’s Ride-Out for Battalion 606. As the former Fire Training Center Coordinator, he trained more than 320 recruits and hundreds of officers across every rank, shaping the next generation of Oklahoma City firefighters.

A sought-after instructor and national conference speaker, Dane has presented at FDIC (2024, 2025), HROC, Water on the Fire (Florida), the New York Technical Rescue Conference, and multiple AT&T Disaster Symposiums. He also serves as a subject-matter expert for Rescue International Group and Joint Defense Training, instructing U.S. military personnel in advanced rescue operations.

Dane is a Fire Officer II, Fire Instructor II, State EMS Instructor, and longtime Paramedic. He’s a past President of the Mid-America FOOLS, serves on CISM and Peer Support Teams, and contributes to The Book of Search and JEMS.

Known for his unfiltered, experience-driven teaching style, Dane sums up his leadership philosophy in one line:
“Earn trust. Lead hard. Take care of your people—for real.”

A white safety helmet with multiple stickers and handwritten notes, resting on a wooden surface in a cluttered workshop or garage.
A man wearing a dark uniform with a badge and a black dog sit together outdoors at night. The scene is illuminated by artificial lights, and there is a red brick wall and parked cars in the background. The text on the image reports that rescue dogs a
A police officer standing on a gymnasium floor speaking to children lying on the floor, with some children in military-style uniforms and helmets.
Firefighters training at a fire drill in Oklahoma City, observing a firefighter climb a ladder to simulate extinguishing a fire in a container.
A man in a navy suit and tie giving a presentation in a conference room with seated attendees.
Rescue workers in yellow life jackets assist a person onto a boat during a flood, with water covering the street and power lines overhead.
A firefighter, MAJ. DANE YAW from the Oklahoma City Fire Department, wearing a helmet and uniform, providing a news interview outdoors with trees and buildings in the background.
Police officer giving a presentation to a group of suited men in a conference room, with a slide titled 'Wealth Building Property' on the projection screen.
Search and rescue team member in uniform and helmet with a headlamp holding a black Labrador retriever on a concrete ledge during a search operation in daylight.
Firefighter in protective gear and helmet working in smoke or fog.
TV news broadcast showing a female anchor on the left and a male rescue worker with a dog on the right, reporting about rescue dogs sniffer for survivors, at 11:48 PM ET.
A rescue worker walking through a dry, barren landscape with a rescue dog. The worker wears a uniform that reads 'Oklahoma US&R Task Force' and a helmet. The news caption reads 'Rescue dogs sniff for survivors' with a subheading mentioning Oklahoma t
A rescue worker wearing a helmet and harness is rappelling down a building with a black dog.
A large group of uniformed personnel practicing fire safety drills outdoors, with firefighters and equipment present, on a paved area beside a building.
A man in a gray suit holding an award medal in a box, smiling, with a red and silver glittery curtain backdrop.