Local 1014 Members on USAR Team Saving Lives in Haiti
Members of Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014 have been on the ground in Haiti for less than a week, but they have already tasted the joy and heartache that comes with their job.
The Local 1014 members -- who comprise the core of California's USAR Task Force #2 -- were dispatched within hours of the 7.0 earthquake that ravaged the island nation January 12th. One of only two internationally-certified search-and-rescue teams in the nation, LA County is the only California team currently on the ground in Haiti.
Since Monday, the team has participated in the rescue of at least 10 people. This past weekend, the LA County team was at the center of a dramatic race against time that eventually resulted in the rescue of a bank teller trapped under tons of concrete and steel.
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The rescue is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise horrific scene on the ground. The Local 1014 members were also dispatched to a day-care center in Port-au-Prince in an effort to rescue children believed trapped. After a week of devastation, disappointment is the more common result.
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The brothers and sisters are part of a larger force sent to Haiti within days of the quake. In addition to firefighters and paramedics, the teams also include specially-trained dogs and their handlers, as well as emergency room personnel, structural engineers, communications experts and heavy-equipment operators.
So far, there have been no injuries on the team and no major threats to their security.
Local 1014 President Dave Gillotte says his members have worked hard to retain their international certification, and are right people for the job.
"Our members are uniquely qualified, and their skills are making a difference," said Gillotte. "They will also bring back valuable information that will help California's response to its own earthquake risk."
CPF members on USAR teams from Sacramento and Oakland had also mobilized for deployment. They were ordered to stand down this week, but have been placed on two-hours notice for their possible deployment.