By Donnie Viloria
On January 9 County Fire ’ s technical rescue Regional Task Force 6 was deployed to its first real-world incident to support search , rescue and recovery operations in mudslide-affected neighborhoods in Santa Barbara County .
As a result of the devastating Thomas Fire in December , many of the area ’ s once-lush hillsides had been burned clear and rendered hydrophobic . As the early winter storm began to produce intense rainfall the surrounding landscape could not hold onto the water and massive flooding began . Local emergency resources were quickly overwhelmed and state Office of Emergency Services placed requests for all 12 regional rescue task forces to mobilize and assist , commencing what came to be known as XSB January Storms 2018 .
Responding in task force configuration , RTF6 sent a four-person hasty team in advance of the main team compliment . Once checked in and briefed at the command post , crews were placed on the first incident action plan and given a search and rescue assignment above the area deemed hardest hit by the first wave of flooding . Primary technical search teams were established and grid patterns followed , based on highest probability of detection . The goals were to search for debris-flow victims , to rescue community members trapped in the affected areas and to keep an enhanced level of situational awareness .
Camera crews captured the diligent deployment of RTF6 personnel , and instantly many members were found with local and national news reporters following them throughout the disaster site . Initial neighborhood checks yielded no victims but several hazards communicated up the chain of command .
Due to the hazards represented it was decided by command staff that all RTF operations would be conducted on twelve-hour day shift cycles . Over the course of the eight-day deployment RTF6 was assigned to five of the seven divisions established . This created numerous opportunities for team members to showcase skill sets in a wide variety of neighborhoods and disaster landscapes , each of which contributed significantly to personnel experience . Technical search skills the main skills utilized , and the deep mud and debris in many areas made the work tedious and challenging — especially since none of the RTFs present were properly equipped for flood and debris flow operations . Requests for waders , boots and search poles were quickly sent into the incident supply unit , which had not fielded such requests previously .
22 FIREWIRE • Spring 2018