LOS ANGELES COUNTY
FIRE DEPARTMENT
NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: LACoFD Public Affairs
(323) 881-2413
CALIFORNIA TASK FORCE 2 mobilizes to AID CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
LOS ANGELES – March 1, 2010 – California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2), Los Angeles County Fire’s world-class Heavy Rescue Task Force, has been mobilized for deployment to Chile to help rescue and recover earthquake victims in Latin America, following a 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Maule, Chili.
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 rescue team managers, three physicians, three structural specialists, and six rescue canines. In addition, eight USAID members will accompany the team to Chile.
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 55,000 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.
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