Toronto (CAN-TF3) Heavy Urban Search and Rescue
HUSAR is the Toronto Heavy Urban Search and Rescue unit CAN-TF3 - an urban search and rescue unit able to respond to disaster situations at a city, provincial and national level, as well as offer international assistance.
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2001 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Toronto |
| Headquarters | Toronto |
| Employees | 130 |
| Annual budget | CAD $500,000 (2018) |
| Agency executive |
|
| Child agency |
|
| Website | HUSAR |
CAN-TF3 is operated by Toronto Fire Services, in collaboration with Toronto Police Service and Toronto EMS created to deal with search and rescue operations in the City of Toronto.[1] This specialized unit was created following the events of September 11, 2001 and allows the city to deal with large-scale disasters. The unit can respond to situations outside of the city, and offer provincial, national, as well as international assistance.
The cities of Vancouver,[2] Calgary,[3] and the province of Manitoba, also currently have, or are developing, similar interoperable Heavy USAR capacity.[4]
Roles and responsibilities
- Search and Rescue
- Emergency Medical Services
- Planning & Technical Information
- Logistics
- Command
Equipment
| Make/Model | Type | Purpose | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F250 | van | OSU-1 Search & Communications | ex-Toronto Paramedic Services 927 Type 2 ambulance |
| Ford F600/Dependable Emergency Equipment | truck | OSU-2 Incident Support Unit | ex-East York Fire Department Rescue # 2 |
| Ford Louisville 9000 | tractor and trailer | OSU-3 Base of Operations | ex-commercial trailer |
| 1990s Volvo VHD | roll on-off truck | OSU-4 (Shoring Unit) | ex-City of Toronto Works Department truck |
| Ford 3500 series | bus | OSU-5 Search Dog Unit | ex-school bus |
| Western Star CNV | tractor and trailer | OSU-6 Rescue Unit | ex-pop deliver truck |
| Princeton Piggyback/BIC Hydraulics | All Terrain Forklift | Support Units | |
| Argo Response | ATV | all terrain transport | |
| John Deere Gator TH 6X4 | ATV | field transport | |
| MCI 102 Highway Coach | bus | personnel transport | ex-GO Transit bus |
Deployments
A list of major deployments of CAN-TF3:
- December 2020 - London, Ontario building collapse
- June 2016 - Mississauga natural gas explosion
- June 2012 - Collapse of the Algo Centre Mall roof/parking structure in Elliot Lake, Ontario
- August 2011 - Goderich Tornado
- April 2003 - Bloor Street West natural gas explosion in Toronto[5]
See also
References
- "HUSAR". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-02-08.
- Harrington, Jeff (2015-05-02). "Vancouver's Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team disappointed it's not in Nepal". CBC News.
- "Canada Task Force 2".
- "Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR)", Public Safety Canada
- "Archived copy". www.citytv.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)