Urban Search & Rescue Task Force
Urban Search and Rescue, US&R, is a "multi-hazard" discipline, that may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, storms, tornadoes, floods, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities and hazardous materials releases.
CA-TF6 is one of 28 National Task Forces and one of eight in California that respond as either FEMA or as a California EMA resource during emergencies requiring highly skilled search and rescue personnel. Although US&R Task Forces are a FEMA resources, they also work for, and in support of, local response agencies.
Under the leadership of Division Chief and US&R Program Manager Michael Staley, the highly trained members include firefighters, medical professionals, canine/handler teams and emergency management personnel with special expertise in search and rescue operations. CA-TF6 performed search and rescue for numerous major disasters, including the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Harvey, and the camp fire incident.
As US&R Program Manager, Division Chief Michael Staley, plans, organizes and administers the Urban Search & Rescue program during day-to-day operations and during team deployments. Within the US&R Division, Captain Joshua Tronaas is the Task Force Cache Manager who maintains the team’s state of readiness. Mike Avila is the Task Force Account Clerk and Billy Milligan is the training manager.
Mission Statement
The CA US&R System provides highly specialized personnel and resources, leveraged from the local level, for 24/7 response capability to the State and Federal Government.
The primary role of the CA US&R System is to provide highly trained, motivated and experienced personnel, specialized tools, equipment and techniques for the purpose of rescuing persons in peril as a result of natural and manmade disasters, terrorist acts and acts of war, as well as to provide large scale incident management coordination and support, as applicable, in support of overall incident operations.
Vision Statement
The California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Six will attain the highest level of readiness and be recognized at the local, state and national level for its strength in providing specialized all-risk search and rescue capability.
Participating Agencies
Click on a link below to view participating agency homepages.
Corona Fire
City of Hemet Fire
Murrieta Fire
Pechanga Fire
Riverside County Fire
San Bernardino County Fire
California Task Force 6 (CA-TF6) is one of twenty-eight National, and one of eight California US&R Task Forces, which respond as a, either FEMA, or California Mutual Aid resource, during emergencies requiring highly skilled search and rescue personnel. Although the US&R Task Forces are FEMA resources, the Task Forces work for, and in support of, local response agencies.
The City of Riverside Fire Department is the sponsoring agency for CA-TF6. Participating members include: Corona, Hemet, Murrieta, Pechanga, and CAL Fire / Riverside County Fire Department. Specialties that include; Search Specialists, Heavy Rescue Specialists, Haz-Mat Specialists, Medical Team, Heavy Riggers, Structural Engineers, and Logisticians. The team also includes non-fire civilians with professional specialty expertise necessary to complete our missions. Civilian member skills include: structural engineers, medical doctors, search dogs and handlers.
CA-TF6 has been deployed to numerous federal emergencies over the years. Some of the previous deployments include earthquakes, the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, the Northridge earthquake, the 9-11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
Pat Hopkins
- Division Chief for City of Riverside Fire Department
- Program Manager for CA-TF6
Division Chief Pat Hopkins has been with the City of Riverside Fire Department since 2003 and on the US&R Team since 2014.
Joshua Tronaas
- Captain for City of Riverside Fire Department
- Logistics Cache Manager for CA-TF6
Captain Tronaas has been with the City of Riverside Fire Department since 2010 and a CA-TF6 member since 2013. Captain Tronaas manages the Type 1 equipment cache and fleet of vehicles.
Lisa Chatlos
- Grant Management
Lisa has been with the City of Riverside since 2019 and with the US&R program since 2025. Lisa assists Pat Hopkins with managing the FEMA Cooperative Agreement expenditures, reports, and records.
Billy Milligan (Part-Time Civilian)
- US&R Training Manager
Recently retired as a firefighter with the City of Riverside, Billy has been a member of CA-TF6 since 2002. Billy coordinates training for Task Force members and instructors and manages record and credentials.
General Information
Address
3085 St. Lawrence St.
Riverside, CA 92504
Phone: (951) 826-5827
Email: [email protected]
Hours: Monday - Friday | 8:00am - 5:00pm
