In the wake of the devastating pair of earthquakes that struck north-central Venezuela, six SDF-trained teams from the Los Angeles County Fire Department (California Task Force 2) deployed as USA-2 alongside other international urban search and rescue teams to assist in locating survivors who may be trapped beneath rubble: …
On Tuesday morning at approximately 12:30 AM, a second-alarm commercial building fire broke out in Lancaster, California. Following the initial emergency response, Human Remains Detection (HRD) canine teams were called to the scene to assist local officials with recovery efforts. SDF-trained teams Nick Bartel & Six and Jonathan Munguia & Clifford of the Los Angeles County Fire Department deployed to the site …
On May 5, 2026, SDF-Trained Team Max and Samantha Mar of the San Francisco Fire Department, California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3) were called into action to support a wide area search in San Francisco. The San Francisco Fire Department and local police responded to a vehicle crash where it was feared the driver had been ejected from …
Our disaster search teams must always be ready to answer the call, no matter where they are or what they are training for. This past week, New York Task Force 2 (NY-TF2) canine Echo put that readiness into action when a single-family home exploded in Rochester, NY. At the …
Our teams train year-round for the unexpected, and this past week, that readiness was put to the test when Trinity Maurer and Search Dog Goldie deployed on their very first mission together! On April 13th, Trinity was in Virginia Beach, VA, teaching a canine care refresher course to her …
On January 5, 2026, SDF-trained teams Michael Bruce & Cooper and Sean Monville & Nanci of Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), along with OCFA teammates Jill Haynes & Rubble, responded to a mudslide that occurred earlier that morning in Orange County, California. The mudslide, caused by California’s recent heavy …
Seven SDF-trained search teams deployed to Washington state as an atmospheric river moves through the Pacific Northwest, causing widespread flooding and mudslides throughout western Washington. Erik Falkenstrom & Leslie, Brian Medley & Navy, and Alyssa Corsa & Wheeler of California Task Force 4, and Brandon Budd & Otter, Pat …
On October 30, 2025, SDF-trained search teams J.P. Hilsabeck & Bond, Ed Ruiz & Harper, and Mike Toepfer & Deacon of Los Angeles County Fire Department and California Task Force 2 deployed to the Caribbean, ready to lend aid to victims of Hurricane Melissa alongside rescuers from around the …
In the wake of catastrophic flooding across parts of Central Texas, search efforts began in affected areas, where first responders worked to locate those who may be trapped or missing. Among the many resources deployed to the region was SDF-trained search team Jon Munguia & Clifford of California Task Force …
On April 2, 2025, an outbreak of deadly storms cut a path across the southern and midwestern United States, leaving destruction in their wake. In response, SDF-trained teams Adam Schaaf & Dodger and Mark Schroeder & Koda of Nebraska Task Force 1, and Jeremy DeMott & Chirp from Virginia Task Force 2, along with their …
