US, Los Angeles: LAX Urban Search and Rescue Team Returns From Colombia Earthquake Mission Part 1.

Los Angeles, United States - August 21, 2026 08/20/2026 07:00 pm GMT-0700 LAX – A Los Angeles County Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue team returned home Thursday evening after deploying to Colombia following a devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake. The 10-member USA-02 support team arrived at Los Angeles International Airport after completing a U.S. State Department mission assisting local authorities with search and rescue operations. The team was made up of seven Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel and three Los Angeles County Department of Public Works structural specialists. While in Colombia, USA-02 worked alongside the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s USA-01 team. The crews provided search and rescue coordination and technical expertise, assisted with heavy rigging and delayering operations, and conducted structural engineering assessments on multiple buildings damaged by the earthquake. Los Angeles County fire officials said the department was grateful to have contributed to the international response and expressed support for communities affected by the earthquake as recovery efforts continue. Members of USA-02 returned to LAX’s Terminal 3 around 7 p.m. Thursday.