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Special Operations

Firefighters checking out equipment for a special operations response.
Firefighters on rescue boat in water
Firefighters training with concrete and tools.

The Special Operations Division is responsible for the overall management and coordination of the state and federal US&R Response System, which includes eight CA FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces, twelve CA Regional Task Forces, eighteen Type II mobile rescue caches, and thirteen Swift Water/Flood Water Rescue Teams.

California Regional Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces (RTFs)

There are currently ten Regional Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces located throughout the state. These Regional US&R Task Forces are comprised of 30 people specially trained and equipped for large or complex urban search and rescue operations. The multi-disciplinary organization provides five functional elements that include supervision, search, rescue, planning, and logistics. The Regional US&R Task Force is totally self-sufficient for the first 24 hours.

Swiftwater Flood/Search & Rescue Teams

There are thirteen Cal OES Swiftwater/Flood Search & Rescue Teams located throughout the state. These Swiftwater/Flood Search & Rescue Teams conduct search and rescue in the water environment, includes searching disaster areas that have become flooded, conducting rescue operations in collapsed structures inundated by floods, tsunamis, dam failure, or other water-related disasters, accessing and rescuing persons and companion animals trapped by flood waters during disasters.

California FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces

California has eight California FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces located throughout the state. Each California FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Task Force is comprised of 80 persons specifically trained and equipped for large or complex urban search and rescue operations. The multi-disciplinary organization provides seven functional elements that include Supervision, Search, Rescue, Haz Mat, Medical, Logistics and Planning. The California FEMA US&R Task Force can provide round-the-clock urban search and rescue operations (two 12-hour shifts). The US&R Task Force is totally self-sufficient for the first 72 hours and has a full equipment cache to support its operation.

Contact Information

Lawrence Collins

Deputy Fire Chief

Phone: (916) 845-8751

Larry.Collins@CalOES.ca.gov

Jeff Dapper

Assistant Fire Chief, Special Operations, North

Phone: (916) 806-7219

Jeff.Dapper@CalOES.ca.gov

Jeff Adams

Assistant Fire Chief, Special Operations, South

Phone: (916) 330-0953

Jeff.Adams@CalOES.ca.gov

Dave Norman

Assistant Fire Chief, Special Operations

Phone: (916) 764-4654

David.Norman@CalOES.ca.gov

Special Operations News

Rescue and recovery efforts continue in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

CA-TF2 assigned to the Air Operations Branch of TC Milton to recon damage and initiate search and rescue operations.

Fire and Rescue Special Operations Assistant Chief, Dave Norman (in his Los Angeles County Fire Department days) on the cover of the Firehouse National Run Survey:

Firefighters gathered around a building and firetrucks with ladders.

Mammoth Lakes: Explosion in 200 block of Hillside Drive

LA Times: LA County Search and Rescue Team combs through wreckage in Turkey earthquake zone

Special Operations General Messages

Special Ops General Message 1

Special Ops General Message 2

Urban Search & Rescue and Swiftwater/Flood Communiques

Update on California-Based Urban Search and Rescue Resources for Hurricanes Helene and Milton_101124

Update on California-Based Urban Search and Rescue Resources_100924

Update on California-Based Urban Search and Rescue Resources_100724

California-Based Urban Search and Rescue Resource Incident En Route_092924

California-Based Urban Search and Rescue Resources Activated for Tropical Cyclone Helene_092424

Publications

ICS 162_Technical Search and Rescue Incident Operational System Description

Special Operations in Action!

Building destroyed in explosion and firefighters climbing around it in the snow.
Firefighter at the scene of a building destroyed in an explosion in the snow.
Firefighter and rescue dog getting ready to search building rubble.
Firefighter in building rubble.
Firefighters in rubble of a building.
Firetruck in snowy weather.
People repairing a building with damage.
Firetrucks in snowy weather.
Rescue boat and workers in a river.
Fire vehicles at a building that is snowed in.
Fire truck and firefighters at a building snowed in.
Rescue workers rescuing a dog and woman from a flooded house.
Rescue workers guiding a boat with survivors through flood waters.
People trying to dig a truck out of mud.
Survivor getting on rescue boat in a flooded neighborhood.
A man at his home with flood waters talking to a rescue worker with a rescue boat.
Flood waters with plane debris.
Rescue boat and worker in flood waters near a grocery store.
Firefighters with structural repair to a building in the snow.
Building with heavy snowpack on the roof.
Rescue boat on flood waters on a street.
Floodwaters on a neighborhood street.
Firefighter boarding up window of building.
Building with snow and window boarded up.
Damage on the inside of a building.
Building with damaged roof from snowpack on the top of the roof.
Rescue boat and rescue worker in flood waters.
Rescue boat on the lake.
Rescue vehicle with rescue boats.
Firefighters in snowy weather making repairs to a building with structural damage.
Fire truck and firefighters at night in snowy weather.
Building with structural damage with snow on the roof.
Fire truck and public safety personnel at a building with snow on the roof.
Rescue workers walking through flood waters.
Rescue workers walking through flood waters.
Rescue worker walking through flood waters with survivors.
Fire truck and trailer in flood waters with rescue workers.
Rescue workers walking through flood waters.
Rescue workers helping an animal in a crate get out of an army vehicle.
Rescue workers helping survivors get out of an army vehicle.
Rescue workers helping survivors get out of an army vehicle.
Red car stranded in flood waters with rescue workers arriving on the scene.
Army vehicle and rescue boat in flood waters with rescue workers.

Explore this Section

California Regional Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces

State & National Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces

Swiftwater/Flood Search and Rescue