{"id":322024,"date":"2026-06-27T20:14:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T20:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/322024\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T20:14:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T20:14:16","slug":"helping-venezuela-meet-miami-dade-fire-rescue-capt-german-leal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/322024\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping Venezuela: Meet Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Capt. German Leal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"text text--small text--normal text--primary\">Published:\u00a0June 27, 2026 at 3:56 PM<\/p>\n<p class=\"text text--small text--normal text--primary\">Updated:\u00a0June 27, 2026 at 4:11 PM<\/p>\n<p>MDFR veteran joins race against time to find earthquake survivorslead-art-block.fullscreen-enterExpand<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/MTODPHX6FFF7DEAMV5GIILL3B4.jpg\"  width=\"1280\" height=\"720\"\/>The Miami Dade College Fire Academy is proud of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Capt. German Leal, who traveled to Venezuela on Saturday to join the search-and-rescue efforts. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">PEMBROKE PINES, Fla.  \u2014 German Leal, a 46-year-old father of three who enjoys fishing and golfing in South Florida, returned to his native Venezuela on Saturday. He had not visited in about 15 years. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">The U.S. Air Force flew Leal, a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue captain since 2017, aboard the McDonnell Douglas\/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III from the Homestead Air Reserve Base to northern Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">Leal\u2019s return to the northern Venezuelan state of La Guaira, where he was born when the oil-rich country was a stable democracy, is as a member of the Florida Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio are counting on him and MDFR Chief Ray Jadallah\u2019s team to help save lives after two 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck on Wednesday. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">Leal is trained to face devastation in his native coastal town of Caraballeda. He recently marked the anniversary of his response to the Champlain Towers South collapse that killed 98 people in 2021 in Surfside. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">Leal graduated from the Miami Dade College Fire Academy in 2003 and returned to his alma mater as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DGDsUuTxJx7\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DGDsUuTxJx7\/\">an instructor<\/a> about 13 years later. MDFR had hired him in 2004, and he had risen to the rank of lieutenant in 2010. As captain, his long list of certifications includes technical rescue, Hazmat, Marine firefighting, and rescue diving. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">Leal is in good company. The State Department also deployed the Miami Fire Rescue Chief Robert Hevia\u2019s Florida Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1 and two more teams from California and Virginia.<\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Earlier today, the men and women of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue\u2019s Florida Task Force 1 (<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/FLTF1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">#FLTF1<\/a>) boarded a plane and began their mission to Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p>Departing from Homestead Air Reserve Base with the support of <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Southcom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">@Southcom<\/a>, they carry with them far more than specialized training and\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CmoWilsYyG\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/CmoWilsYyG<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MiamiDadeFire\/status\/2070946447424434180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow\">June 27, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">Related list: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.local10.com\/news\/local\/2026\/06\/26\/how-to-help-south-florida-donation-drop-off-locations-to-help-venezuelans-after-earthquakes\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.local10.com\/news\/local\/2026\/06\/26\/how-to-help-south-florida-donation-drop-off-locations-to-help-venezuelans-after-earthquakes\/\">Drop-off locations in South Florida<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph\">More <a href=\"https:\/\/www.local10.com\/topic\/Helping_Venezuela\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.local10.com\/topic\/Helping_Venezuela\/\">HELPING VENEZUELA<\/a> coverage <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/DNJWXN3IXJSOKL5C5L73J2UFYU.jpg\"  width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>VENEZUELA A helicopter flies over a search and rescue team at work on Saturday in Catia La Mar, Venezuela. (AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara\/AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara) <img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/KI63JSGOR43HXIKCCTGK3GJWM4.jpg\"  width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>AMS-GEN VENEZUELA-SISMOS Residentes y rescatistas buscan entre los escombros dos d\u00edas despu\u00e9s de los sismos que sacudieron La Guaira, Venezuela, el 26 de junio de 2026. (AP Foto\/Mat\u00edas Delacroix) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Matias Delacroix\/AP Photo\/Matias Delacroix) <img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/YVV6CYX326KL5OBMV2WDEHQFE4.jpg\"  width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Rescue workers search through the rubble three days after earthquakes struck Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara\/AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara) <img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/OKXDM7S6X6KLKNRAFE6NTH7CAE.jpg\"  width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>Venezuela Earthquake Residents and rescue workers search through the rubble two days after an earthquake struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Juan Pablo Arraez) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Juan Pablo Arraez\/AP Photo\/Juan Pablo Arraez) <img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782591253_421_FK75XBP7FHKCVJ5MKA6PI4MJFM.jpg\"  width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>Venezuela Survivors walk on Friday near a toy that was abandoned in the rubble of an apartment building in Catia La Mar, Venezuela. (AP Foto\/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara\/AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara) <img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782591254_713_WZ2ZPXTVTBLOMG35HO6MYN5OHU.jpg\"  width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Rescue workers aid Daniel Cordero after pulling him from the rubble two days after an earthquake struck Catia la Mar, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara\/AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara) <img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782591254_321_6VECRMMLLUMEHY2FKOYBIU2HEA.jpg\"  width=\"800\" height=\"532\"\/>Venezuela Earthquake Venezuelan Police searches through the rubble two days after earthquake struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ariana Cubillos) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Ariana Cubillos\/AP Photo\/Ariana Cubillos) <img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782591255_62_43W22GXLVKGNIS3TLNWBHOHQ6M.jpg\"  width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake Rescue workers place Daniel Cordero on a stretcher after pulling him from the rubble two days after an earthquake struck Catia la Mar, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Fernando Vergara\/AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara) <img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782591256_298_A5N4MQAIL7IXNN3SNMYNICVCEE.jpg\"  width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>Venezuela Earthquake Members of a religious organization distribute food to people affected two days after an earthquake struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ariana Cubillos) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Ariana Cubillos\/AP Photo\/Ariana Cubillos) <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph b-article-body__copyright\">Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"Andrea Torres\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/https:\/\/author-service-images-sandbox-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub\/wplginc\/83a8effa-fc87-4940-96.jpeg\"  width=\"100\" height=\"100\"\/>Andrea Torres<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph b-author-bio__author-description\">The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Published:\u00a0June 27, 2026 at 3:56 PM Updated:\u00a0June 27, 2026 at 4:11 PM MDFR veteran joins race against time&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":322025,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[123,125,124],"class_list":["post-322024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-miami","tag-miami","tag-miami-headlines","tag-miami-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=322024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322024\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/322025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=322024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=322024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=322024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}