California urban rescue team to deploy to Haiti

By JOHN ANTCZAK, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 1:04 p.m.

LOS ANGELES — A California team of urban search-and-rescue specialists received orders Wednesday to deploy to earthquake-stricken Haiti, where thousands are feared dead or trapped in rubble.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Frederic Stowers said the 72-member team and thousands of pounds of equipment and supplies would head to March Air Reserve Base. The departure time was not yet known.

A squadron of C-17 Globemaster transports is stationed at March in Riverside County.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said California was ready to offer any assistance that is needed.

"On behalf of all Californians, we send our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims," he said in a statement.

California Task Force 2, organized by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, began getting ready shortly after the magnitude-7.0 quake devastated impoverished Haiti on Tuesday.

The team includes firefighters, paramedics, emergency room doctors, search dogs and handlers, heavy equipment specialists and engineers trained in rescues from collapsed structures.

The task force has responded to many domestic and international disasters, including the 1994 Northridge earthquake and Hurricane Katrina.

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