Fairfax County team in the Virgin Islands helping victims of Hurricane Irma

VA-TF1 team members rescue a hurricane Irma rescue a Hurricane Irma victim.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s Urban Search and Rescue Team (VA-TF1) rescued an elderly woman who was critically ill and trapped in her home, which had been damaged by Hurricane Irma, on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, The team assessed the patient, initiated care, and brought her to a hospital, Assistant Fire Chief Chuck Ryan reports.

Currently, VA-TF1, which is supported by FEMA, has approximately 40 members on St. Thomas and 20 on the island of St. John. Additional personnel are stationed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, carrying out logistics support. The team was in the Houston area earlier this month helping out after Hurricane Harvey.