On Sunday, August 12, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) activated the County of Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LACoFD’s) California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) urban search and rescue (USAR) canine teams for deployment on Sunday, August 13, to Maui in the aftermath of the wildfires that impacted the island earlier last week.
“The County of Los Angeles knows all too well the devastation and pain Maui is experiencing right now,” said Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Maui. I am grateful to FEMA and California Governor Gavin Newsom for deploying USAR teams, including our LACoFD CA-TF2 USAR canine teams to assist in the recovery efforts.”
“The LACoFD sends our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families who have lost loved ones; to the injured; and to all who have been displaced, lost homes, and businesses due to the wildfires that have ravaged the beautiful island of Maui,” said Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone. “We send our Maui ohana strength and our support during this difficult time.”
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Photo by LACoFD K9 members of the search-and-rescue team and their handlers (l-r), Captain Celina Serrano and K9 Prentiss, Fire Firefighter Paramedic Edward Ruiz and K9 Harper, and Firefighter Paramedic Nicholas Bartel and K9 Six, departed from LAX with other team members on Sunday, August 13, to lend their assistance in the ongoing recovery efforts in Maui.
