The Los Angeles County Fire Department's 74-member team and thousands of pounds of equipment and supplies rushed from Los Angeles to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County and departed on a military transport at 10:00 p.m. PST. Flight time was estimated at six hours.

A search-and-rescue team from Orange County also was preparing late Wednesday to head to Haiti. The California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 5 was to be deployed early Thursday, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg McKeown said.

Task Force 5  is made up of two 31-person teams including paramedics and search dogs.

Time is critical for trapped victims as dehydration, crush injuries, fractures and pressure on the respiratory system take a toll.

Medical experts say that, in particular, crush injuries common in earthquakes release toxins from injured muscle tissue into general circulation, and they recommend treatment even before a person is extricated.