Members of the team are representative of the following agencies:

• Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services
• Vancouver Engineering Department
• Vancouver Police Department
• British Columbia Ambulance Service
• Vancouver Permits and Licenses
• Vancouver Parks & Recreation
• Delta Engineering Operations
• Surrey Fire & Rescue
• Two independent Emergency Physicians

In 1995 a request for volunteers resulted in an initial group of 25 members who were selected based on their current job function, past or present rescue experience, responsibilities, interpersonal skills and the ability to deal with the demands of the USAR team.

These members were initially trained by Washington State Task Force at their facility in Tacoma Washington. Since then the team has developed its own trainers and training facility.

The Vancouver team has since evolved and developed an USAR training program that was adopted by the Federal government (PSEPC) and considered the national standard.  The program is being distributed by the Federal government and used by other municipalities and agencies who are developing their own team.

The Vancouver team have offered our USAR training to candidates from City of Toronto, Canadian Forces – Esquimalt - BC, Delta - BC, Yellowknife - NT, Saskatoon – Sask., Victoria - BC, Montreal - Que, West Vancouver - BC, North Vancouver - BC, Coquitlam - BC, New Westminster - BC and Canadian Coast Guard – Victoria BC