URBAN SEARCH & RESCUE

The 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 National Officer of Disaster (NODA) to become a sponsoring agency for one of the nation’s 28 NODA US&R Task Forces.

Concurrent with the development of a NODAUS&R Task Force in Los Santos, 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 NODA US&R Task Force for a federally declared disaster elsewhere. These components are:

US&R Task Forces

The 24-hour US&R resources are geographically located by Bureau for optimum coverage. Presently, there are two US&R Task Forces, one in Vespucci and one in Grapeseed.

The US&R Task Forces are located at Fire Stations 14 and 82. 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 by the MTL 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.