CA-RTF assisted with the Camp Fire in NorCal
CA-RTF-4, the California OES Regional Task Force, has been demobilized from the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Camp Fire incident. The team performed search and recovery of 1,144 structures in seven days. The team returned to Pasadena Monday morning.
The 29-member team was first deployed on Nov. 17 to assist with large area search efforts. The team included members from Pasadena, Monrovia, Arcadia, Glendale, Monterey Park, and Alhambra. Upon arriving safely at base camp in Oroville on that same day the team got to work.
On Nov. 18 they searched over 400 structures near Paradise.
Then on Nov. 20 the team was assigned to perform primary and secondary searches and recovery in Concow. They sent GPS and data collection to the incident base daily. The team reported having to use its four UTVs (utility task vehicles) due to the rain and difficulty accessing areas.
The team even celebrated Thanksgiving in Chico.
Team leader David Marquez told KTLA, “You have to try and discern the difference between a human bone and a piece of burned material, and it’s a very slow and time-consuming process.”
The regional USAR task force is comprised of 30 individuals who are specially trained and equipped for large USAR operation. The multi-disciplinary organization provides supervision, search, rescue, medical, and tool/equipment support.
