The Los Angeles City Fire Department’s (LAFD) Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Program is a dynamic system that has evolved over the past decade and includes a variety of response levels. The first step in a structured response system began on April 4, 1993. The Mayor and City Council authorized the Fire Department to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to become a sponsoring agency for one of the nation’s 28 FEMA US&R Task Forces.
Concurrent with the development of a FEMA US&R Task Force in Los Angeles, efforts were made to enhance the Fire Department’s US&R component to provide a 24-hour response capability.
These efforts have resulted in two distinctly separate yet cohesive urban search and rescue components capable of a unified response for local disasters or mobilization of the FEMA US&R Task Force for a federally declared disaster elsewhere. These components are:
FEMA US&R TASK FORCE
This Task Force, designated CA-TF1, when activated, would deploy a 70-member team staffed by Fire Department personnel, Structural Engineers from the Department of Building and Safety, canine search handlers from the Department and civilian ranks, and doctors from private industry. The US&R Unit coordinates the training and development of this multi-agency response system. There are eight FEMA US&R Task Forces in the State with a totaling 28 Task Forces nationwide. Each Task Force is required to have a minimum of 210 total members using the “two-team concept” this allows for the deployment of a highly trained 70-member team. The teams include command staff, medical staff, and four functional specialist groups. The four functional groups are Search, Rescue, Medical, and Technical specialists.
The operational concept for the activation of a FEMA Task Force is predicated on a request for a Presidential disaster declaration. The activation request is initiated by FEMA, through CalOES, to the sponsoring agency. For an out-of-area event, Task Forces are required to be mobilized at an assigned point of departure within six hours of accepting an activation request.
FEMA Task Forces are equipped to be self-sufficient for at least the first 72 hours and capable of 24-hour operation for nearly10 days. This includes food, water, clothing, shelter, sanitation, communications, command, and of course, the tools and equipment necessary to perform technical search and rescue operations.
When CA-TF1 is mobilized to a disaster out of the area, there are two mobilization plans. The equipment can be loaded onto military pallets and secured for air transport or, if so ordered, the equipment and personnel can travel by ground. CA-TF1 has two-40’ tractor/trailers, two-24’ crew cab box vans, three-crew cab pickup trucks, and rental agreements with charter bus agencies to handle a deployment by ground. These resources of staffing and equipment can also provide search and rescue capabilities to any localized event.
LAFD US&R Task Forces
The LAFD 24-hour US&R resources are geographically located by Bureau for optimum coverage. Presently, there are six US&R Task Forces, two in Valley Bureau, two in West Bureau, one in Central Bureau, and one in South Bureau.
The US&R Task Forces are located at Fire Stations 3, 5, 27, 85, 88, and 89. All of the members assigned to these Task Forces have been trained in technical search and rescue operations. Each of the Task Force stations has a specialized, technical rescue vehicle custom-made for the LAFD by the Pierce Corporation.
These self-sufficient vehicles have the ability to power their own equipment and lighting; provide air and hydraulic supply for the variety of lifting, cutting, and breaking tools and equipment; and carry items such as fiber optic search devices for state-of-the-art searching.
SIGNIFICANT RESPONSES
Northridge Earthquake
On Monday, January 17, 1994, at 4:31 a.m., the most destructive earthquake in the history of Los Angeles struck as most of the City slept. Fifty-seven fatalities were attributed to this earthquake, with more than 25 percent of this total (16 people) killed as the result of a single structure collapse, the Northridge Meadows apartment building.
Initially, a five-member Search and Rescue Group was formed with a mixture of off-duty Disaster Preparedness members and US&R instructors who loaded equipment onto a stake-bed truck and an 18’ trailer. At 6:30 a.m. on that morning, “US&R One” coordinated and assisted search and recovery efforts at the Northridge Meadows apartment, the Northridge Mall parking structure collapse, and wherever else they were needed. Eventually, US&R 2, 3, and 4 would be formed and continue to operate until January 28, 1994.
As a result of the search and rescue activities experienced during the Northridge earthquake, US&R demonstrated that highly specialized, trained, well-equipped, and self-sufficient urban search and rescue resources could be mobilized and quickly deployed to provide lifesaving expertise and equipment.
September 11, 2001
The World Trade Center terrorist attack was CA-TF1’s first real trial-by-fire. Although the City was taking action to prepare for additional attacks, it soon became clear that the World Trade Center and the Pentagon incidents would require massive search and rescue efforts. Prior to the official notification of activation from FEMA, the US&R Unit began a call-out of the qualified personnel to staff CA-TF1. A verbal activation order was received at 1200 hours followed by the official order at 1412 hours. A total of 70 members were “rostered” and were soon aboard three military C-141 aircraft. For the next nine days, CA-TF1 conducted search, rescue, and recovery missions in, under, and around the South Tower. “Live alerts” by CA-TF1’s search canines occurred during the first four days of operation. CA-TF1 participated in the recovery of 30 – 35 bodies.
Unfortunately, no live rescues were made. On September 21, 2001, CA-TF1 returned home and was met by a cheering crowd of family and friends. The men and women of CA-TF1 used a combination of knowledge, experience, advanced equipment, and, most of all, courage in the time of national crisis to help the people of New York.
2002 Winter Olympics
From February 3-10, 2002, CA-TF1 was deployed to Salt Lake City, Utah, to provide standby during the 2002 Winter Olympics. This was the first deployment of CA-TF1 as a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) US&R Task Force. The mission was to remain prepared for deployment for any WMD or US&R incident that might have occurred during the Olympics.
Although CA-TF1 did not respond to any incidents, each day was filled with preparedness duties and training exercises. A Rapid Response Team concept was developed and refined. The below-freezing temperatures gave the firefighters a deeper appreciation of our Southern California climate.
La Conchita Landslide
When the hills above La Conchita suddenly buried people and homes during January 2005’s heavy rainstorms, LAFD US&R resources responded to the incident. Members of the Ventura County Fire Department were on scene to witness the event and immediately called for US&R resources. US&R 88 and US&R Task Force 85 were on the scene within one hour. US&R 88 used its powerful rooftop lighting system to light up the mountainside. This allowed rescuers to work safely and continue rescue efforts while safety officers kept a watchful vigil for further land movement. For the next four days, search canines, tractors, and manual labor kept hopes alive for the families of the missing victims.
Metro Rail Train Derailment
On January 26, 2005, two MetroLink commuter trains derailed along the Glendale and City of Los Angeles borders. US&R 88 and US&R Task Forces 27 and 88 were dispatched to the incident. During this deadly incident, US&R members assisted with the search, rescue, cutting, and stabilizing of leaning passenger cars. This valuable combined resource of staffing and equipment assisted both Departments in speeding up rescue and recovery efforts.
Hurricane Katrina
On August 31, 2005 CA-TF1 was requested by FEMA to respond to Dallas, Texas to Stage for Hurricane Katrina. This deployment was a ground-based deployment. On August 6, 2005 CA-TF1 was dispatched to Gulfport, Mississippi to conduct search and rescue operations in the Gulfport / Biloxi area of Mississippi. CA-TF1 conducted wide-area searches of the area as well as a delayering operation to confirm that no victims were in the debris of a collapsed apartment building in Biloxi. CA-TF1 also provided humanitarian support for community members of the Gulfport / Biloxi region. Hurricane Katrina was the eleventh named storm and fifth hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States.
On September 10, 2005, CA-TF1 was demobilized and returned home.
Hurricanes Gustav and Ike
On August 28, 2008, CA-TF1 was deployed as a Type 3 team to both Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike.
During the Hurricane Gustav part of the deployment, CA-TF1 traveled from Los Angeles, California to Houston, Texas. During this deployment members of CA-TF1 prepared for the arrival of Hurricane Gustav by conducting position-specific training for the members of CA-TF1.
CA-TF1 was assigned to the Beaumont, Texas area for the arrival of Hurricane Gustav. Hurricane Gustav had no significant impact on the Beaumont, Texas area and CA-TF1 was reassigned to Houston staging by the FEMA US&R Blue Incident Support Team.
On September 5, 2008, CA-TF1 was reassigned to Hurricane Ike. CA-TF1 remained at staging in Houston, Texas.
During this time in Houston, Texas CA-TF1 members conducted training and preparedness for all CA-TF1 members in hurricane preparedness. This was the first time that CA-TF1 members would be staging in the impact zone of the hurricane.
Hurricane Ike made landfall in Galveston, Texas on September 12, 2008.
On September 13, 2008, CA-TF1 conducted search and rescue operations in Beaumont, Texas. CA-TF1 worked in the Beaumont area until September 16, 2008. During this time CA-TF1 performed 130 rescues and one CA-TF1 member became ill during this period and was flown home.
On September 16, 2008, CA-TF1 was reassigned to Galveston, Texas. CA-TF1 was assigned to search the area near Scholes International Airport. The area consisted of a mix of commercial and residential dwellings. CA-TF1 conducted search and rescue missions in the area until 1400 hours. During the search operations in Galveston, one CA-TF1 member requested to be sent home for personal reasons and was transported to Bush International Airport for departure home. All CA-TF1 members returned to Houston, Texas for staging.
On September 17, 2008, was demobilized at 0800. The CA-TF1 recovery team was sent to Houston, Texas to retrieve the cache and drive home while the original deployed team flew home.
Hurricane Harvey (Houston, TX) and Hurricane Irma (The Florida Keys)
On August 26, 2017, CA-TF1 was activated to deploy a Type One Team with an Embedded Water Rescue Team to Houston, Texas in response to Hurricane Harvey. CA-TF1 arrived in their area of operation on August 28, 2017. They were assigned to the Wharton Branch and set up a temporary Base of Operation at the local fairgrounds.
On September 5, 2017, CA-TF1 was demobilized after Hurricane Harvey after working five Operational Periods. During the Hurricane Harvey Deployment, CA-TF1 performed 56 Evacuations, assisted 54 people who were Sheltered in Place, and assisted with 64 Animal Issues.
On September 6, 2017, CA-TF1 was reassigned and directed to deploy to Hurricane Irma. CA-TF1 arrived at the staging location in Orlando, Florida on September 9, 2017. CA-TF1 Plans Team members were detailed to assist the Florida IMT assisting with plan development as well as developing contingency plans based on the changing events with Hurricane Irma.
On September 11, 2017, CA-TF1 was assigned to the Florida Keys to perform wide-area search and rescue operations including recon, damage assessment, search data collection, and coordinating medical treatment and transportation to local emergency medical services.
On September 18, CA-TF1 was demobilized and returned home after a 24-day deployment.
During the Hurricane Irma deployment CA-TF1: Searched 4,164 Structures; assisted 511 people who were Sheltered in Place; and assisted with 61 Animal Issues.
Hurricane Florence
On September 10, 2018, CA-TF1 was activated and deployed as a 16-member Mission Ready Package Water (MRP-W) for response to Hurricane Florence.
The team arrived in Martinsville, VA on September 13, 2018.
The team was assigned to Henry County, VA. Under the leadership of Captain Tom Henzgen, CA-TF1 team members conducted a mission capability awareness training session for Henry County Emergency Management.
While waiting for the storm to arrive CA-TF1 conducted reconnaissance of the area and assisted Henry County with developing response plans.
The MRP-W also conducted training sessions and team building while awaiting the arrival of the storm.
Although the storm in VA didn’t have as great an impact as predicted our team was there and ready to assist.
The CA-TF1 MRP-W was released and demobbed on September 18, 2018. They arrived home on September 22, 2018.