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Virginia Battalion Chief Describes Task Force's Initial Work In Japan
WUSA9
Reprinted with Permission
WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) - The 74 members of Virginia Task Force 1 deployed to Japan is seeing the devastation first hand.
Fairfax Co. Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Chris Schaff joined 9NEWS NOW by phone Tuesday morning. He said half the team was resting after searching for survivors, while the other half was preparing to take over.
"They have us doing search and rescue right along the shoreline where the tsunami came in, and actually working in that grid this morning and afternoon, and we're going to push further down and closer to the coast tomorrow morning," Chief Schaff said.
The team was also deployed to Haiti after the earthquake in January, 2010, where they made more than a dozen rescues.
Chief Schaff described how the conditions are different in Japan: "In Haiti, there's not a whole lot of lumber they used to build, it's mostly concrete. Here, there is a lot of lumber, so there is a lot of debris washed ashore. There's houses that have been picked up and moved, as well as a lot of boats, large boats, that we've had moved a good distance from the shore, up on top of the houses and collapsed those houses. The crews are working in and around those, doing their search and rescue."
At this point, they have not had an opportunity to rescue anyone, though Chief Schaff says the team is still very energetic.
Chief Schaff says they are also far enough away for the threat of nuclear radiation not be a concern. "We've got hazardous materials specialists that are also working with us from the team, and they're keeping us abreast of the situation with the hazardous materials in the area we're working in. That's not a complication we're dealing with right now, so we're not really focusing that direction. However, we do have people that can take care of that should that need arise for us."
Reprinted with Permission
WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) - The 74 members of Virginia Task Force 1 deployed to Japan is seeing the devastation first hand.
Fairfax Co. Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Chris Schaff joined 9NEWS NOW by phone Tuesday morning. He said half the team was resting after searching for survivors, while the other half was preparing to take over.
"They have us doing search and rescue right along the shoreline where the tsunami came in, and actually working in that grid this morning and afternoon, and we're going to push further down and closer to the coast tomorrow morning," Chief Schaff said.
The team was also deployed to Haiti after the earthquake in January, 2010, where they made more than a dozen rescues.
Chief Schaff described how the conditions are different in Japan: "In Haiti, there's not a whole lot of lumber they used to build, it's mostly concrete. Here, there is a lot of lumber, so there is a lot of debris washed ashore. There's houses that have been picked up and moved, as well as a lot of boats, large boats, that we've had moved a good distance from the shore, up on top of the houses and collapsed those houses. The crews are working in and around those, doing their search and rescue."
At this point, they have not had an opportunity to rescue anyone, though Chief Schaff says the team is still very energetic.
Chief Schaff says they are also far enough away for the threat of nuclear radiation not be a concern. "We've got hazardous materials specialists that are also working with us from the team, and they're keeping us abreast of the situation with the hazardous materials in the area we're working in. That's not a complication we're dealing with right now, so we're not really focusing that direction. However, we do have people that can take care of that should that need arise for us."
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