L.A. County fire search and rescue team headed to Japan
A Los Angeles County Fire Department search and rescue team is scheduled to leave for Japan Friday evening to assist in areas affected by the deadly earthquake and tsunami.
The 74-member team -– along with about 74 tons of equipment, including swift-water rescue gear and six search dogs –- is expected to arrive in Japan early Sunday, said fire Capt. Ed Lozano.
“The logistics of how we are going to get there -– whether it’s military aircraft or civilian -– where exactly we will be landing and where we will be going is all happening right now simultaneously,” Lozano said.
The team is one of two such units in the Fire Department. One team recently returned from assisting victims of earthquakes in New Zealand.
“Some of those people will now be headed to Japan,” Lozano said.
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EDITOR'S PICKS:
The efforts of this team are commendable. My only question is who picks up the tab for the personnel, dogs and equipment, as well as the overtime, replacement officers in LA? Does the country requesting the help pay for it or is it paid for by the people of Los Angeles and California?
Posted by: Christine | March 12, 2011 at 04:12 PM
Dang! You read my mind!!!
When was the last time the London, Berlin or Hague rescue teams every helped out another country in need? Sure, they will mince across Euro borders to rescue victims of collapsed soccer stadiums, but they never seem to help anyone else.
Posted by: dangermouse | March 13, 2011 at 04:17 PM
re: dangermouse
Seriously?! That's a pretty broad, and obviously incorrect, statement.
If you'd do a bit of research, you'd see that many European countries have offered aid (UK and France are two I found quickly from Google).
You probably don't hear about them as much because a) during natural disasters, the US generally requires foreign aid less becausethere will always be states that weren't affected by a disaster to provide aid, and b) because local US media will obviously report on local aid, rather than international aid, because local readers want to read local news. For the same reason, British news organisations primarily have coverage of British aid.
Posted by: Matt | March 13, 2011 at 05:41 PM
Folks--we should pay it--and gladly. Not only are they helping our good neighbors, but they are learning on the ground how to help us when we need it.
Posted by: lester | March 13, 2011 at 07:18 PM
Don't forget, they are getting invaluable experience for when the big one hits L.A. ....
Posted by: sirene | March 13, 2011 at 08:29 PM
The LA County Fire Search Team are doing a great job just like the British Fire & Rescue team who are there already and like the LA team had only just arrived back last tuesday from the New Zealand earthquakes. My hat goes off to all those who give their time and energy to help others rather than waste it on rash comments.
Posted by: mark campbell | March 14, 2011 at 02:55 AM
As you will recall, many countries sent us help during Hurricane Katrina, including, Britain and the Netherlands. Remember the Dutch-flood control?
Posted by: Jon | March 14, 2011 at 08:59 AM
We are proud supporters of anything that the National Search Dog Foundation does.
Posted by: Ann DeMartini | March 22, 2011 at 11:52 AM