San Francisco Fleet Week 2024 Combined Urban Search and Rescue Training > United States Navy > News

SAN FRANCISCO – Nearly 50 Sailors and Marines participated in urban search and rescue training with members of the San Francisco Fire Department during San Francisco Fleet Week 2024, Oct. 9.

The training took place on Treasure Island, an artificial island in San Francisco Bay and home to Naval Station Treasure Island, a former U.S. Navy facility that operated there from 1942 to 1997. Today, Treasure Island is home to the San Francisco Fire Department's training facility.

Doug Johnson, a firefighter with the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) and instructor with the Northern California Rescue Training Team, explains the importance of these integrations.

“In the event of a natural disaster, when everyone has basic skills that can be relied upon to meet a need, a much more coordinated deployment of personnel is possible,” Johnson said. “If I can reach out to a group of military members as a single resource and say, 'Hey, here's what we need to accomplish – are you able to help?' It just makes it easier for those who have training on our side to pass on some of the responsibility.”

According to military personnel in attendance, key takeaways from the event included safety, oversight and the methodical execution of tasks. U.S. Navy Lt.jg Henry Gao, the repair department officer aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), shared his experiences from the training.

“All of these activities are a fun workout, but of course you have to know all the precautions, check before doing anything that could be dangerous, and have a complete plan for what it should look like when it's safe.” And when something is dangerous “Looks like, of course you have to know how to avoid the situation,” Gao said.

SSgt. of the US Marine Corps. Talon Wolfe, who covers Somerset, also weighed in. “The opportunity to get involved in the community was great,” Wolfe said. “My biggest advantage was that this training allowed us to show that we can do much more than we initially thought. Today I worked with a team of other Sailors and Marines to lift a 6,000 pound concrete slab.”

SFFD Deputy Chief of Operations Darius Luttropp shared his perspective on integrating military personnel with firefighters and instructors during San Francisco Fleet Week 2024.

“All Fleet Week and Civilian Defense Support exercises are great opportunities to highlight civilian service and the military,” Luttropp said. “They give us the opportunity to see how others are doing. We can truly see the value of interaction, motivation, drive, desire and willingness. The pace at which the military works is very similar to that of the fire department. It’s always been a great collaboration.”

Now in its 43rd year, Fleet Week is a time-honored naval service celebration that allows Bay Area citizens to experience today's maritime capabilities firsthand. Nearly 2,500 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will demonstrate their skills and equipment, participate in various community service events and enjoy Bay Area hospitality.