LOS ANGELES — A rescue team from Los Angeles County has been dispatched to Japan to provide assistance in the aftermath of an earthquake and tsunami that has left hundreds dead and hundreds more missing.
The earthquake struck the eastern coast of Japan on Friday, sweeping away ships, cars and homes, and leaving fires burning out of control.
Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Task Force 2 had returned from an earthquake rescue and recovery mission in New Zealand less than 24 hours before receiving the activation request from The United States Agency for International Development Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.
California Task Force 2 is a specially-trained heavy rescue team made up of Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters and paramedics, along with emergency room physicians, structural engineers, heavy equipment specialists, hazardous materials technicians, and communications and logistics specialists, to assist with heavy rescue and recovery efforts on the ground.