Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) involves the location, rescue (extrication,) and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause of victims being trapped, but victims may also be trapped in transportation accidents, mines and collapsed trenches.

Urban Search and Rescue is considered a "multi-hazard" discipline, as it may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, storms and tornadoes, floods, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities, and hazardous materials releases. The events may be slow in developing, as in the case of hurricanes, or sudden, as in the case of earthquakes.

The Santa Ana Fire Department is proud to be a member of California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 5 (CATF5). Our members have been deployed on US&R Missions during the Oklahoma City Bombing and the Northridge Earthquake. Forty Santa Ana Firefighters are fully trained in the Urban Search and Rescue disciplines.

Urban Search & Rescue (U.S.A.R.)