Riverside Fire Department

US&R

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.


 

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.


 

Michael Staley

  • Division Chief for City of Riverside Fire Department
  • Program Manager for CA-TF6

Division Chief Michael Staley has been with the City of Riverside Fire Department since 2000 and on the US&R Team since 2002

 

Joshua Tronaas

  • Captain for City of Riverside Fire Department
  • Logistician 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 daily operations for the US&R CA-TF6 team.

 

Mike Avila

  • Account Clerk II/Grant Management

Mike has been with the City of Riverside Fire Department since 2016. Mike assists Michael Staley with managing the FEMA Cooperative Agreement expenditures and maintains the Task Force members certifications and files.

 

Billy Milligan

  • US&R Training Manager

Billy has been with the City of Riverside Fire Department since 2001 and a CATF6 member since 2002. Billy coordinates training for Task Force members and instructors.


 

General Information

Address
3085 St. Lawrence St.
Riverside, CA 92504

Phone: (951) 826-5827

Email: usarcatf6@riversideca.gov

Hours: Monday - Friday | 8:00am - 5:00pm