Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR)

HUSAR (Can-TF1)

The Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) Task Force is a special operations team comprised of 120 members with medical, fire suppression/rescue, EMS, SAR, and engineering backgrounds.

The task force rescues victims from major structural collapses and other hazards. It is one of four heavy urban search and rescue teams able to deploy anywhere in Canada.

The HUSAR Task Force’s strict training program has become a national standard for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada. It regularly practices advanced rescue techniques to prepare for disasters that involve:

  • Rescue from structural collapse, confined spaces, and high angles
  • Technical search strategies
  • Trained search dogs

 

The HUSAR Task Force includes:

  • Structural engineers
  • Heavy rigging specialists
  • Search specialists (including highly-trained search dogs)
  • Logistics specialists
  • Communications technicians
  • Rescue specialists
  • Medical specialists
  • Physicians

 

Members come from following organizations:

  • Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services
  • Vancouver Police Department
  • City of Vancouver Engineering Department
  • Vancouver Park Board
  • BC Emergency Health Services