The US&R team is a multi-disciplinary technical rescue team from SLO County emergency response agencies, administered by CAL FIRE/San Luis Obispo, and designed to assist with rescues beyond the scope of engine company personnel. The types of rescues include, but are not limited to, Swift Water Rescues, Flood Rescues, Low and High Angle Rescues, Trench Rescues, near-shore Ocean Rescues (including Surf Rescues), Structural Collapse Rescues, and other technical rescues that require skills, knowledge, and equipment beyond those of initial attack resources.
The US&R consists of 23 members, including 14 CAL FIRE employees and 7 employees from other San Luis Obispo County Fire agencies. When dispatched, the US&R team will respond to technical rescues to assist ongoing incident activities or to assume operations level and safety officer assignments as an interdisciplinary team well-versed in swift or flood water, ocean, high-angle, trench, confined space, and urban search and rescues.
Goals:
Meet ICS staffing requirements for two (2) US&R Type 2 Rescue Companies or 1 US&R Type 2 Strike Team. The Strike Team Leader must have successfully completed SFM Rescue Systems 1 in addition to normal Strike Team Leader prerequisites.
Provide input regarding ICS equipment complements for one (1) US&R Type II and one US&R Type III vehicle.
Meet ICS staffing guidelines for two (2) SWFR Type 2 Teams or one (1) SWFR Type I Rescue Team.
Provide input regarding ICS equipment complements for one (1) SWFR Type 1 Inventory.
Provide direction, assistance, and training to CAL FIRE and other personnel in operational and awareness level technical rescue training.
Provide input regarding FEMA, OES, and other grants as needed/available.
Maintain the skills of CAL FIRE employees by providing access to specialized training.