introduction to san bernardino county fire department’s urban search & rescue program

Introduction to San Bernardino Introduction to San Bernardino County Fire Department’s County Fire Department’s

Urban Search & Rescue ProgramUrban Search & Rescue Program

Urban Search and Urban Search and RescueRescue (also known as

US&R or Technical Rescue) Defined:

Incidents where specialized Incidents where specialized training and equipment are training and equipment are required to mitigate technical required to mitigate technical rescue operations in the safest and rescue operations in the safest and most efficient manner possible.most efficient manner possible.

US&R IncidentsUS&R Incidents

Acts of Acts of TerrorismTerrorism• Weapons of Mass Weapons of Mass

Destruction (WMD)Destruction (WMD)• ChemicalChemical• BiologicalBiological• RadiologicalRadiological• NuclearNuclear• ExplosiveExplosive• (CBRNE)(CBRNE)

Natural Natural DisastersDisasters

• EarthquakesEarthquakes• FloodsFloods• HurricanesHurricanes• TornadosTornados• AvalanchesAvalanches• Land SlidesLand Slides

US&R Incidents US&R Incidents (continued)(continued)

Mass Mass Transportation Transportation AccidentsAccidents

Accidental Accidental ExplosionsExplosions

Construction Construction FailuresFailures

Swift Water/Flood Swift Water/Flood IncidentsIncidents

Trench/Excavation Trench/Excavation Collapse IncidentsCollapse Incidents

Confined Space Confined Space IncidentsIncidents

Technical Rope Technical Rope RescueRescue

EARTHQUAKES

RAIN & FLOODS

Swiftwater Rescue Incidents

HURRICANES

TORNADOES

TRENCH & LANDSLIDES

AVALANCHES

ACTS of TERRORISM

TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENTS

CONFINED SPACE INCIDENTS

US&R Resource TypesUS&R Resource Types

Response to US&R incidents is accomplished in a tiered fashion drawing from a variety of resources.

US&R resources are categorized or “Typed” by their capability.

Let’s look at some examples….

US&R Resource TypesUS&R Resource Types US&R Companies:US&R Companies:

– Trained personnel, equipment, and Trained personnel, equipment, and transportation (3 – 6 personnel).transportation (3 – 6 personnel).

US&R Crews:US&R Crews:– Trained personnel that respond Trained personnel that respond

without equipment (3 – 6 personnel).without equipment (3 – 6 personnel).» Augment or supplant US&R Companies.Augment or supplant US&R Companies.

US&R Companies and Crews US&R Companies and Crews operate at one of the following operate at one of the following response capabilities:response capabilities:– Basic, Light, Medium, or HeavyBasic, Light, Medium, or Heavy

US&R Type 4 (Basic) US&R Type 4 (Basic) Operational LevelOperational Level

Type 4 (Basic) Operational LevelType 4 (Basic) Operational Level represents the minimum capability represents the minimum capability to conduct safe and effective search to conduct safe and effective search and rescue operations at:and rescue operations at:– Incidents involving non-structural Incidents involving non-structural

entrapment in non-collapsed entrapment in non-collapsed structuresstructures

Type 4 (Basic) Capabilities Required

Type 4 (Basic) Level Type 4 (Basic) Level EquipmentEquipment

US&R Type 3 (Light) US&R Type 3 (Light) Operational LevelOperational Level

Type 3 (Light) Operational Level Type 3 (Light) Operational Level represents the minimum capability represents the minimum capability to conduct safe and effective search to conduct safe and effective search and rescue operations at:and rescue operations at:– Structure collapse incidents Structure collapse incidents

involving the collapse and failure involving the collapse and failure of Light Frame Construction and of Light Frame Construction and low angle and vertical rope rescuelow angle and vertical rope rescue

Type 3 (Light) Capabilities Type 3 (Light) Capabilities RequiredRequired

Type 3 (Light) Level Type 3 (Light) Level EquipmentEquipment

US&R Type 2 (Medium) US&R Type 2 (Medium) Operational LevelOperational Level

Type 2 (Medium) Operational Level Type 2 (Medium) Operational Level represents the minimum capability represents the minimum capability to conduct safe and effective to conduct safe and effective search and rescue operations at:search and rescue operations at:– Structure collapse incidents involving Structure collapse incidents involving

the collapse and failure of Heavy Wall the collapse and failure of Heavy Wall construction, high angle rope rescue construction, high angle rope rescue (excluding highline systems), (excluding highline systems), confined space rescue (no permit confined space rescue (no permit required), and trench and excavation required), and trench and excavation rescuerescue

Type 2 (Medium) Capabilities Type 2 (Medium) Capabilities RequiredRequired

Type 2 (Medium) Type 2 (Medium) Level EquipmentLevel Equipment

US&R Type 1 (Heavy) US&R Type 1 (Heavy) Operational LevelOperational Level

Type 1 (Heavy) Operational Level Type 1 (Heavy) Operational Level represents the minimum capability represents the minimum capability to conduct safe and effective to conduct safe and effective search and rescue operations at:search and rescue operations at:– Structure collapse incidents involving the Structure collapse incidents involving the

collapse and failure of Heavy Floor, Pre-cast collapse and failure of Heavy Floor, Pre-cast Concrete and Steel Frame construction, high Concrete and Steel Frame construction, high angle rope rescue (including highline angle rope rescue (including highline systems), confined space rescue (permit systems), confined space rescue (permit required), and mass transportation rescuerequired), and mass transportation rescue

Type 1 (Heavy) Capabilities Type 1 (Heavy) Capabilities RequiredRequired

Type 1 (Heavy) Capabilities Type 1 (Heavy) Capabilities RequiredRequired

Type 1 (Heavy) Type 1 (Heavy) Level EquipmentLevel Equipment

Additional US&R Additional US&R ResourcesResources

OES Regional US&R Task Forces:OES Regional US&R Task Forces:– 29 trained personnel & $750,000 - 29 trained personnel & $750,000 -

$1M of equipment. $1M of equipment.

FEMA State/National US&R Task FEMA State/National US&R Task Forces:Forces:– 70 trained personnel & $2M - $3M of 70 trained personnel & $2M - $3M of

equipment. equipment.

Regional US&R Task Forces are Local and State Resources. They cannot be

deployed inter-state or internationally.

Regional US&R Task Regional US&R Task ForcesForces

Currently there are 9 Regional Currently there are 9 Regional US&R Task Forces in California.US&R Task Forces in California.

San Bernardino County Fire San Bernardino County Fire Department is the proud host of Department is the proud host of California Regional US&R Task California Regional US&R Task Force 6 (CA-RTF-6).Force 6 (CA-RTF-6).

We also have four Type 1 Heavy We also have four Type 1 Heavy Rescue Companies, six Type 3 Light Rescue Companies, six Type 3 Light Rescue Companies, and over eighty Rescue Companies, and over eighty trained US&R personnel.trained US&R personnel.

State/National US&R Task Forces can be deployed inter-state and some can deploy internationally

State / National US&R State / National US&R Task ForcesTask Forces

There are 28 State / National US&R There are 28 State / National US&R Task Forces nation-wide.Task Forces nation-wide.

8 of them are in California8 of them are in California The last team to be added to the The last team to be added to the

system was in the late 1990s.system was in the late 1990s. FEMA has indicated that no new FEMA has indicated that no new

teams will be added to the system teams will be added to the system in the foreseeable future.in the foreseeable future.

Reflex Time for Reflex Time for DeploymentDeployment

State National US&R Task Forces State National US&R Task Forces have a pre-determined reflex time have a pre-determined reflex time of 6 hours to their point of of 6 hours to their point of assembly or departure (usually an assembly or departure (usually an airport).airport).

Regional US&R Task Forces have a Regional US&R Task Forces have a pre-determined reflex time of 45 pre-determined reflex time of 45 minutes to their point of assembly minutes to their point of assembly or departure (a staging area or the or departure (a staging area or the site of an emergency). site of an emergency).

Additional US&R Additional US&R ResourcesResources

US&R Search DogsUS&R Search Dogs Structural EngineersStructural Engineers Technical SpecialistsTechnical Specialists Heavy EquipmentHeavy Equipment

US&R Search Dog and US&R Search Dog and HandlerHandler

Structural EngineersStructural Engineers

Heavy EquipmentHeavy Equipment

Benefit to our Local Benefit to our Local CommunityCommunity

Safe, effective, and timely delivery Safe, effective, and timely delivery of technical rescue services to the of technical rescue services to the citizens of San Bernardino County.citizens of San Bernardino County.

– The following slides show a variety of The following slides show a variety of Technical Rescue responses in County Technical Rescue responses in County Fire’s response area….Fire’s response area….

Victim Entrapment SurvivalVictim Entrapment Survivalfor Structural Collapsefor Structural Collapse

30 minutes later = 91% survive30 minutes later = 91% survive 1 day = 81%1 day = 81% 2 days = 36.7%2 days = 36.7% 3 days = 33.7%3 days = 33.7% 4 days = 19%4 days = 19% 5 days = 7.4%5 days = 7.4%

Of the victims that survive the initial event:Of the victims that survive the initial event: