The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s 74-member California Task Force 2 will deploy to New Zealand to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts following yesterday’s reported 6.3 magnitude earthquake, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

“The Los Angeles County Fire Department is highly prepared and equipped to deal with a natural disasters,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Given the devastating events that have occurred in the New Zealand, I am proud that Los Angeles County has been called upon to share our expertise in assisting with relief efforts and helping to save lives.”

The task force was requested by the US Agency for International Development and the US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. The task force has already begun staging at the Fire Department’s USAR facility in Pacoima, and will be departing for Christchurch, New Zealand this evening.