More times than not, urban search and rescue operations are also hazmat operations. That’s one reason Pasadena, Calif.-based USAR Task Force 32 preps for hazmat incidents.

Developed in the early 1990s, the team was the first USAR company in its operating area. Today, Task Force 32 covers Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties in Southern California.

Task Force 32 is part of the larger Regional Task Force 4. RTF-4 is composed of 30 responders specially trained and equipped for large or complex USAR operations. The multi-disciplinary organization provides eight functional elements that include supervision, search, rescue, medical, planning, safety, tool and equipment support, and hazmat. The unit is totally self-sufficient for the first 48 hours and organized for 12-hour operational periods for up to three weeks.

Task Force 32 trains daily and often trains with other agencies, including the Los Angeles County USAR team and other outside agencies. The team frequently travels outside Pasadena to train. Part of that is to train with local mountain rescue teams because Pasadena is located in the front country of Angeles National Forest.

The team’s 10 members are cross staffed from other apparatus out of Pasadena’s Station 32.

The biggest struggle facing the team now is finding training classes to get its new members certified.