Washington State Task Force

09/24/2026

Safe travels to Colorado & the Red Incident Support Team (IST). WA-TF1’s Caleb Freeman from Redmond Fire is deploying with the Red IST as their Safety Officer. So proud of all of you stepping up when asked! Thank you for what you do, every day!!!!❤️🇺🇸💙

Update:
The Task Force is expected to check in, secure their gear, and get a medical check early this evening.
The team will leave DIA on an early morning flight tomorrow (Friday).
Original post: Colorado Task Force 1 (CO-TF1) is being activated ahead of Tropical Storm Nolo, which is expected to strengthen into a hurricane and could make landfall on Hawaii’s Big Island as early as Friday.
Sixteen members of the team are deploying. They will head out early this evening, ready to support search and rescue operations if needed.
We’ll share more as the team makes its way to Hawaii.

08/21/2026

08/20/2026

USA-01 has been demobilized by the U.S. Department of State for the earthquake response. The 10-member team will return home to Fairfax County later this evening.

08/19/2026

This , we thank and applaud all 210 Washington State Task Force 1 members who stand ready to spring into action during local and national disasters. These highly-trained search and rescue professionals (including canines!) can deploy within six hours.

Learn more about the team and its formation at PierceCountyWa.gov/USR.

08/14/2026

08/13/2026

Be safe!

The international urban search and rescue technical team (USA-2) received activation orders from the U.S. Department of State. Seven and three Los Angeles County Public Works personnel are on their way to support Colombia’s search and rescue efforts.

USA-2 joins the ten-member USA-1 team from Fairfax County, Virginia on this mission to support the Colombian people in the aftermath of this week’s 7.4 magnitude earthquake.

This mission will support USAR coordination, communications, and structural engineering assessments.

08/12/2026

Safe travels to all!!

USA-01 has deployed a 10-person disaster coordination and structural engineering assessment team in support of the U.S. Department of State response to the Colombia earthquake.

07/31/2026

💖🐾CASSIA HUXEL 🐾💖
Cassia joined WA-TF1 with her handler Jo Huxel August 19, 2016 as a FEMA Certified Live Find Canine Team and is joining the long list of distinguished retirees as of July 30, 2026. Cassia was born Nov 19, 2012 in South Africa and was certified in Search and Rescue there before coming the U.S. with Jo. In the last14+ years Cassia has gained the respect and gratitude of every human and canine to cross her path. And it was HER path, not anyone else's! We were all lucky enough to have her join us on WA-TF1's response to Hurricane Irma in 2017. Over her working dog career, she was won more trophy's, ribbons and awards than anyone can count. Cassia has talent that we all dream about! Thank you, Cassia, for being a member of our Task Force and dedicating so many years to us all! Your courage and faithful companionship has made an everlasting difference!

Please join us here at WA-TF1 in congratulating Cassia on her very well deserved next chapter, RETIREMENT! You have more than earned every nap you take whenever you want to take it! Thank you Cassia!

07/22/2026