Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
4100 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-246-3801, TTY: 711 and Fax:703-385-1687
Duty PIO (Weekends/After-hours): 703-280-0694
Media Information Line: 703-324-3000
Email: fire-rescue.PIO-LSE@fairfaxcounty.gov
Website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire

08/17/07

Three VA-TF1 Members Deploy to Peru Earthquake Disaster

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will send members from Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1), Saturday, August 19, 2007 to assist in the humanitarian efforts following the earthquake in Peru. Three members from VA-TF1 will fly to Lima, Peru to be part of a support module of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team.

Virginia Task Force 1 members are firefighters and first responders from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and are specially trained in communications, liaison, and logistics. Members will deploy with life support equipment (tents, generators), IT equipment, and food and water to support 15 people for up to 21 days. The Department and USAID have a long-term partnership in the provision of specialized humanitarian relief which includes deployments of this type as well as urban search and rescue.

Team members will be available for interviews at 8 a.m., Saturday, August 19, 2007, at the Fairfax Training Academy, 4600 West Ox Road, Fairfax, Virginia.

For more information, call Daniel L. Schmidt or Lieutenant Raúl G. Castillo, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, 703-246-3801 and TTY: 711. Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.