City of Sacramento Fire Department

The Sacramento Fire Department is the sponsoring agency for California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 7, one of 28 Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Forces in the nation and one of eight in California. As a sponsoring agency the City of Sacramento is responsible for storing a large cache of search and rescue tools and equipment that is maintained through federal grants. Task Force personnel and equipment can be used locally as well for state and federal deployments.

US&R Task Forces were originally designed to respond to structural collapse caused by earthquakes, such as those in California. Over the past two decades the scope of US&R response and capability has grown to include disasters and catastrophes (man-made and natural), incident support functions, and preplanned events. Due to the growing demands for well equipped, highly trained, and motivated rescue forces, California Task Force 7 can respond to a range of events from terrorism incidents to local rescue needs.

Specialties within California Task Force 7 include: collapse rescue, heavy rigging, logistics, hazardous materials, medical, communications, canine search teams, technical search, and planning. The Task Force is comprised of fire and rescue personnel from Sacramento Fire Department, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, El Dorado County Fire Protection District, Folsom Fire Department, Roseville Fire Department, the Sacramento International Airport Fire Department, and the West Sacramento Fire Department. The Task Force also contracts with civilians for physicians, structural engineers and canine handlers.

The Task Force can be deployed in two major configurations to meet the needs of a rescue incident. A Type I, or full deployment, can consist of 70 to 80 members, while a Type III, or light deployment, may roster 28 to 34 members. When requested Task Force personnel can assist other Task Forces, Incident Management Teams, and other jurisdictions.

Along with conducting monthly drills designed to train all 210 members, there were several larger training events that added to the Task Force’s ability to respond to incidents. In June, the Task Force completed a mobilization exercise (MobEx) over a three-day period in order to provide water awareness training and familiarization of the capabilities of a Type III Task Force. In November 2005, California Task Force 7 completed a single day MobEx utilizing a Type I task force. This was a joint exercise involving air support from the Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento who flew the team to Beale Air Force Base. The November MobEx focused on mobilizing personnel on a timed basis and accomplishing goals through scenario training.

The year 2005 was a busy year for US&R operations. Early in the hurricane season there was much discussion on local and national levels regarding hurricane response. The skills received during the Type III MobEx training were put into action when members of our Task Force were sent to aid the victims of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.

On August 30, 2005, CA TF7 supported a Swift Water Rescue Team (SWRT) with 14 personnel from Sacramento Fire Department. The SWRT was sent to New Orleans to assist in search and rescue of the flood victims. During the 17-day operation the SWRT accomplished over 350 rescues and searched over 1000 homes in flooded areas of New Orleans. On August 31, 2005, thirty-four personnel from CA TF7 were deployed as a Type III Task Force to Gulfport, Mississippi, to assist in searching for victims of Hurricane Katrina. CA-TF7 was tasked with secondary searches of several hundred homes and several square miles of debris. A total of 60 personnel from CA-TF7 were sent to aid in the rescue response, incident management, and the initial phase of recovery from the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast Area. Deployed personnel include:

10 Incident Support Team members
34 Type III Task Force members
14 Water Rescue Team members
2 Transportation Specialists

CA-TF7 has deployed a Task Force or provided personnel for Incident Support Teams in the following National responses:

1992 Hurricane – Iniki
1995 Terrorist Attack – Oklahoma City, Alfred P. Murrah Building
2000 National Special Security Event – 2000 Olympics, Atlanta
2001 Terrorist Attack – The World Trade Centers, New York
2002 National Special Security Event – 2002 Olympics, Salt Lake City
2003 National Special Security Event – Space Shuttle Recovery
2004 National Special Security Event – Democratic National Convention
2004 National Special Security Event – Republican National Convention
2004 Hurricane – Charlie
2004 Hurricane – Ivan
2004 Hurricane – Francis
2005 Hurricane – Katrina
2005 Hurricane – Rita

California Task Force 7 has also been involved with several other responses, which include:

1992 Weather Event – Propane Gas Explosions due to snow, Truckee, California, State of California response
1994 Earthquake – Northridge, California, State of California response which later became a National response
1996 Rock Slide – Yosemite, California, State of California response
1997 Flooding – Sacramento Valley Floods, State of California response