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Welcome to the California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 6 (CA-TF 6) website!

California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 6 (CA-TF 6)

What is Urban Search and Rescue?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) established the National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System in 1989 as a framework for structuring local emergency services personnel into integrated disaster response task forces.

Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) involves the location, rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces.

California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 6 (CA-TF6) is one of twenty-eight teams in the nation which respond to regional and national emergencies, including earthquakes, terrorist attacks, hurricanes and other natural or manmade disasters. If a disaster warrants national assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will deploy the nearest task force(s) to support state and local emergency response efforts, locate victims and manage recovery operations.

Under the leadership of Division Chief/US&R Program Manager Dave Lesh, the 215 highly trained members of CA-TF6 include firefighters, medical professionals, canine/handler teams and emergency management personnel with special expertise in search and rescue operations. CA-TF6 has performed search and rescue for numerous major disasters, including the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, and Hurricane Katrina.

Mission Statement

  • The CA US&R System provides highly specialized personnel and resources, leveraged from the local level, for 24/7 response capability to the State and Federal Government.
  • The primary role of the CA US&R System is to provide highly trained, motivated and experienced personnel, specialized tools, equipment and techniques for the purpose of rescuing persons in peril as a result of natural and manmade disasters, terrorist acts and acts of war, as well as to provide large scale incident management coordination and support, as applicable, in support of overall incident operations.

Participating Agencies


City of Corona Fire Department City of Hemet Fire Department City of Murrieta Fire Department Newport Beach Fire Department
City of Norco Fire Department Pechanga Fire Department Riverside County
California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 6 (CA-TF 6)