A Los Angeles County Fire Department search and rescue team is scheduled to leave for Japan Friday evening to assist in areas affected by the deadly earthquake and tsunami.

The 74-member team -– along with about 74 tons of equipment, including swift-water rescue gear and six search dogs –- is expected to arrive in Japan early Sunday, said fire Capt. Ed Lozano.

“The logistics of how we are going to get there -– whether it’s military aircraft or civilian -– where exactly we will be landing and where we will be going is all happening right now simultaneously,” Lozano said.

The team is one of two such units in the Fire Department. One team recently returned from assisting victims of earthquakes in New Zealand.

“Some of those people will now be headed to Japan,” Lozano said.

(Source: LA Times)