US&R involves the location, rescue (extrication), and initial medical treatment of victims trapped as a result of structural collapses and other natural or man-made catastrophes. Considered a "multi-hazard" discipline, it may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, storms and tornadoes, floods, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities, and hazardous materials releases. US&R teams are assembled by regular firefighters who receive additional training and skills in search and rescue for use in virtually any condition or location needed. Because of the specialized training, (over 150 hours), the tools needed, skills learned, tactics used and techniques necessary to carry out this process, US&R is applicable to use in a wide range of day to day emergency incidents. This may include rescuing survivors of confined space, mass transportation, climbing, an industrial machinery accidents; as well as rescuing victims from floods, swift-water, high-rise fire incidents and cave-ins. US&R requires complex training
including: structural collapse courses, technical rescue courses, swift water rescue training, medical and hazardous materials training, command and ICS training, technical and canine courses for search and rescue dogs and handlers. With proper training, tools, and regular simulation, US&R teams stay on constant standby for immediate deployment and rapid life-saving maneuvers. A few well-known disasters that required US&R teams to be deployed
are: the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, the space shuttle Columbia incident and Hurricane Katrina. In Orange County, US&R teams are regularly called upon to find missing hikers or campers in hidden terrain, victims of boating accidents in rivers and lakes, as well as structural collapses that hide victims from rescue. With a commitment to public safety, the OCPFA also helps plan and host search and rescue training with residents of some of the cities it protects.