The Quito Metropolitan District Fire Department carried out an activation and mobilization exercise for the ECU-01 USAR Group as part of the process to obtain the international USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) classification, endorsed by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).
During this activity, which took place from 4-5 June, the Quito Fire Department’s USAR team demonstrated its response and coordination capabilities in a simulated emergency situation (seismic event).
This was achieved through documented and operational activities related to the team’s preparation, skills and procedures in a controlled environment that mimicked real-life conditions.
This was done to identify improvement actions for preparation and coordination within the parameters of the INSARAG External Assessment and Classification (IEC).
The personnel training during these days included exercises and assignments in technical searches and the handling of specialized tools in simulated scenarios involving collapsed structures.
This training is part of a planned effort to strengthen urban emergency response capacity in a preparatory exercise for search and rescue activities.
For this exercise, Quito mobilized specialist personnel, canine units and operational and logistics units.
Being part of this exercise is an important step towards achieving international classification in 2026.
The Quito Fire Department‘s USAR team stands out as an elite unit, specialized in locating, rescuing and saving people trapped in collapsed structures.
Since its formation as a task force, they have been activated in major emergencies such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the April 16, 2016, earthquake in Manta and Pedernales, where they rescued 99 people alive, demonstrating a solid track record in disaster response.
In recognition of these achievements, in May 2017 the Secretariat of Risk Management accredited it as a Medium USAR team with a total of 60 firefighter members and in 2020, it was re-accredited under the national standard with 98 rescuers and two dogs.
Quito Fire Department carries out exercises and training as part of the process to obtaining the international USAR classification.
