Three dozen Peninsula firefighters are heading to Hawaii ahead of Hurricane Lane, currently a Category 5.
In addition to the 36 members of Task Force 3, nine military pallets of equipment, loaded with over 40,000 pounds of search-and-rescue equipment, are on the way to Hawaii.
“The Search and Rescue Team was last deployed to Hawaii for Hurricane Iniki during its first deployment back in 1991, Last year, the Team responded to three Hurricanes and two in State potential flooding events. Today, was the first time the Task Force Has deployed out of its new warehouse, now located in the City of East Palo Alto,” Menlo Park Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said.
On Wednesday night, the hurricane is about 335 miles south-southeast of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, moving west-northwest. Hurricane Lane will move over the mainland from Thursday to Saturday.
The Task Forces are the Swiss Army knives of Technical Rescue Operations and this configuration is specific to a smaller, more focused, water rescue capable unit that can operate in a dynamic field environment for ten to fourteen days” Schapelhouman said.
Agencies and Individuals being deployed from Task Force 3:
Menlo Park Fire Protection District
Central San Mateo County Fire Department
San Mateo Fire Department
Mountain View Fire Department
Redwood City Fire Department
San Francisco Fire Department
San Jose Fire Department
Santa Clara City Fire Department
Santa Clara County Fire Protection District
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