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Virginia Task Force One returned to Fairfax County after a 10-day deployment to Venezuela, where the urban search-and-rescue team worked alongside international crews following the June 24 earthquakes.

The Fairfax County-based team was activated June 25 and mobilized approximately 80 first responders and six dogs. During the deployment, the U.S. contingent identified as USA1 worked more than 186 continuous hours, triaged 74 sites, operated at 41 locations and participated in five live rescues, according to David Barlow, deputy chief of special operations for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

One widely shared video showed responders rescuing a mother and her 9-month-old baby several days after the earthquakes.

“All 50-plus international teams combined in Venezuela triaged 391 sites, conducted technical rescue operations at 146 locations, resulting in 14 live rescues,” Barlow said.

The United States also sent urban search-and-rescue teams from Los Angeles and Miami. The U.S. Embassy in Caracas thanked the crews and praised their “extraordinary work on the ground.”

The team returned home Monday night. Members of the local Venezuelan community attended the homecoming and presented responders with a Venezuelan flag.

Andrea Ramos, who attended the homecoming, said she had relatives in Venezuela and that some did not survive the disaster. She also said she had heard that the visiting responders brought equipment and taught Venezuelan firefighters how to use it.

“You were there working so hard, and thank God you brought equipment that you had,” Ramos said. “And you were teaching them.”