Originally published on May 7, 2026 by NBC Bay Area and written by Kris Sanchez

Two agencies are getting a head-start on the wildfire season, with one of them getting a major funding boost for federal search and rescue teams.

FEMA’s National Urban Search and Rescue program is receiving $56 million in federal funding, the largest increase in 20 years.

The funding will support 28 task forces nationwide, including Task Force 3 based in the Menlo Park Fire Protection District and Task Force 4 out of the Oakland Fire Department.
Six other task forces are based in California.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin announced the funding Thursday morning in East Palo Alto. The task forces are made up of highly trained firefighters from local departments.

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