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)