HUSAR is the Toronto Heavy Urban Search and Rescue unit CAN-TF3 - an urban search and rescue unit able to respond to disaster situations at a city, provincial and national level, as well as offer international assistance.
CAN-TF3 is operated by Toronto Fire Services, in collaboration with Toronto Police Service and Toronto EMS created to deal with search and rescue operations in the City of Toronto. This specialized unit was created following the September 11 attacks in New York City, United States and allows the city to deal with large-scale disasters. The unit can respond to situations outside of the city, and offer provincial, national, as well as international assistance.
The cities of Vancouver, Calgary, and the province of Manitoba, also currently have, or are developing, similar interoperable Heavy USAR capacity.
Roles and responsibilities
Search and Rescue
Emergency Medical Services
Planning & Technical Information
Logistics
Command
Equipment
Deployments
A list of major deployments of CAN-TF3:
December 2020 - London, Ontario building collapse
June 2016 - Mississauga natural gas explosion
June 2012 - Collapse of the Algo Centre Mall roof/parking structure in Elliot Lake, Ontario August 2011 - Goderich Tornado April 2003 - Bloor Street West natural gas explosion in Toronto