CA-TF2: UPDATED - LACFD USAR RESPONDING TO CHILE

    LOS ANGELES COUNTY
      FIRE DEPARTMENT

UPDATED NEWS  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Contact:   LACoFD Public Affairs
                                                (323) 881-2413

CALIFORNIA TASK FORCE 2 stages for possible deployment

to CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE  

      LOS ANGELES – March 1, 2010 – California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2), Los Angeles County Fire’s world-class Heavy Rescue Task Force, is staged for possible deployment to Chile to help rescue and recover earthquake victims in Latin America, following a 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Maule, Chile.
      Commanders of the 74-member team received the request from the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID-OFDA), and are currently staging at the Department’s USAR Facility in Pacoima.  The team includes two additional search team managers, three physicians, three structural specialists, and six rescue canines.
      California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) is a specially-trained and equipped Urban Search and Rescue Task Force consisting of Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters and paramedics rescue specialists, emergency room physicians, structural engineers, heavy equipment specialists, canine search dogs and handlers, hazardous materials technicians, communications specialists, and logistics specialists. This unique technical rescue team responds with 70,000 pounds of prepackaged search and rescue tools and medical equipment to conduct around-the-clock search and rescue operations at domestic and international disasters, both natural and man-made.
        The Los Angeles County Fire Department is one of the largest emergency service agencies in the world, providing fire protection and life safety services to more than 3.8 million residents and commercial business customers in the County’s 2,305-square-mile area, and around the globe when needed.  For more information, visit the Department’s website at www.fire.lacounty.gov. 

#  #  #