By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–Three members of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s Urban Search and Rescue California Task Force 8 were involved in a vehicle crash early Sunday morning on East Highway 20 near the border of Texas and Louisiana, authorities said.
The three team members are part of a 48-person team headed to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts in North Carolina.
They were in an F-350 truck when the crash occurred at 2:45 a.m. All three were flown by air ambulance to Louisiana State University Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
The remainder of the task force team members were sent to Waskom, Texas, where they will wait for further instructions.
“Our prayers are with these three brave firefighters, their families, and loved ones, as they are being treated in Louisiana,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “We’ve seen the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, and we know how critical it is to have water-rescue specialists responding to disasters like this one. These first responders put their own lives on the line every day, here at home and around the country when called. They embody the courage, bravery, and service that defines our San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.”
On Friday, the Task Force 8 crew left San Diego with 48 people from multiple agencies. The Type III water rescue team includes 32 team members from SDFD, others from Carlsbad, Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, and Santee fire departments, an emergency room doctor, two firefighters from Riverside Fire Department (members of USAR CA-TF6), one civilian structural engineer and one City of San Diego Fleet Services mechanic.
San Diego Fire Chief Robert Logan and Deputy Chief Steve Lozano left San Diego early Sunday morning, heading to Shreveport, Louisiana.
“The news of this crash is devastating. We are doing everything we can to offer support to our department and those team members and their families who were part of this deployment,” said Assistant Chief James Gaboury. “
The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is the sponsoring agency for the San Diego Urban Search & Rescue California Task Force 8. The task force is made up of more than 200 members from several local agencies. These members are firefighters, medical doctors, and engineers. All team members across the United States receive extensive training that is consistent across the task forces. They are trained to work together seamlessly regardless of which agency they represent or rank they hold. In addition, all the equipment they use is the same.
California Task Force 8 has deployed to many natural disasters over the years. There are 28 Federal Emergency Management Agency Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces throughout the United States.
