Toronto (CAN-TF3) Heavy Urban Search and Rescue

Heavy Urban Search and Rescue / Canada Task Force 3

Agency overview
Formed	2001
Preceding agency	Toronto Fire Services, Toronto EMS
Jurisdiction	Toronto
Headquarters	Toronto
Employees	130
Annual budget	CAD $500,000 (2018)
Agency executive	Matthew Pegg, Fire Chief, Toronto Fire Services
Child agency	Toronto Fire Hazmat Team
Website	HUSAR

HUSAR is the Toronto Heavy Urban Search and Rescue unit CAN-TF3 - an urban search and rescue unit able to respond to disaster situations at a city, provincial and national level, as well as offer international assistance.

CAN-TF3 is operated by Toronto Fire Services, in collaboration with Toronto Police Service and Toronto EMS created to deal with search and rescue operations in the City of Toronto.^[1] This specialized unit was created following the September 11 attacks in New York City, United States and allows the city to deal with large-scale disasters. The unit can respond to situations outside of the city, and offer provincial, national, as well as international assistance.

The cities of Vancouver,^[2] Calgary,^[3] and the province of Manitoba, also currently have, or are developing, similar interoperable Heavy USAR capacity.^[4]

Roles and responsibilities

• Search and Rescue
• Emergency Medical Services
• Planning & Technical Information
• Logistics
• Command

Equipment

Product list and details

Make/Model	Type	Purpose	Origin
Ford F250	van	OSU-1 Search & Communications	ex-Toronto Paramedic Services 927 Type 2 ambulance
Ford F600/Dependable Emergency Equipment	truck	OSU-2 Incident Support Unit	ex-East York Fire Department Rescue # 2
Ford Louisville 9000	tractor and trailer	OSU-3 Base of Operations	ex-commercial trailer
1990s Volvo VHD	roll on-off truck	OSU-4 (Shoring Unit)	ex-City of Toronto Works Department truck
Ford 3500 series	bus	OSU-5 Search Dog Unit	ex-school bus
Western Star CNV	tractor and trailer	OSU-6 Rescue Unit	ex-pop deliver truck
Princeton Piggyback/BIC Hydraulics	All Terrain Forklift	Support Units
Argo Response	ATV	all terrain transport
John Deere Gator TH 6X4	ATV	field transport
MCI 102 Highway Coach	bus	personnel transport	ex-GO Transit bus

Deployments

A list of major deployments of CAN-TF3:

• December 2020 - London, Ontario building collapse
• June 2016 - Mississauga natural gas explosion
• June 2012 - Collapse of the Algo Centre Mall roof/parking structure in Elliot Lake, Ontario
• August 2011 - Goderich Tornado
• April 2003 - Bloor Street West natural gas explosion in Toronto^[5]

See also

• Toronto Fire Services
• Toronto EMS
• Toronto Police Service
• Toronto Office of Emergency Management
• Disaster Assistance Response Team and Canadian Forces Search and Rescue
• Urban Search and Rescue New York Task Force 1

Other similar units

• Vancouver (CAN-TF1) Heavy Urban Search and Rescue[1]
• Calgary (CAN-TF2) Heavy Urban Search and Rescue[2]
• Manitoba (CAN-TF4) Heavy Urban Search and Rescue[3]
• Halifax (CAN-TF5) Heavy Urban Search and Rescue
  • Halifax Regional Search and Rescue[4]
  • Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency[5]

References

1. "HUSAR". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-02-08.
2. Harrington, Jeff (2015-05-02). "Vancouver's Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team disappointed it's not in Nepal". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2020-11-08. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
3. "Canada Task Force 2". Archived from the original on 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
4. "Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR)" Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, Public Safety Canada
5. "Enbridge fined in fatal 2003 explosion | CityNews". www.citytv.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.