Topos1

From rescuing people trapped in rubble and recovering bodies in the world's worst disasters to finding the smallest treasures, including personal belongings, los Topos, “the moles” of Mexico, are always up for a challenge.

Thursday wasn't the exception when the Commanding General and President at Topos USAR Carlos Cienfuegos and General Director Francisco Sanchez drove through a burned neighborhood in Altadena. The duo arrived over the weekend to lend a helping hand in the aftermath of the fires. 

Los Topos is a group of volunteers working jointly in the search operations and rescue of victims. The group was created after the 1985 earthquake in Mexico and they have special training and knowledge in  earthquake recovery and other natural disasters. 

A few blocks after crossing the area blocked by the National Guard in Altadena, los Topos saw a homeowner staring at her burned home at the corner of Skyview Drive and Loma Alta Drive. Without hesitation–and with their limited English skills–the duo exited their truck to offer help. 

The owner looked at them, hesitant at first, unaware they were real rescuers. After introducing themselves, she felt more comfortable and said there was a safe she wanted to open but didn’t know how.

Once they confirmed she was the home owner, Cienfuegos and Sanchez walked to the burned scene and opened the safe. They don’t use specialized gear or equipment. They said they are used to it, and their health has never been compromised. 

In less than an hour, they opened it. The owner, Maria Cousineau, recovered some burned but beloved items and was very grateful for their assistance. 

“We left her alone because that’s personal stuff … we helped her recover some of her jewelry,” said Sanchez as he walked away from where the safe was. “It is very sad to see how you can lose your patrimony in a matter of minutes.”

Topos2

The house was completely burned to the ground, but Cousineau was glad she was able to recover the safe and other small items with the help of the Topos. 

Helping around the world

El Comandante Cienfuegos is a petite and slim man. However, his knowledge of rescue missions is vast. The 65-year-old man had experience as a rescuer from a young age and joined los Topos in 1985. Since then, he has been in at least 40 countries in the world's five continents. Some of his rescue missions include 9/11 in New York, the earthquakes in Japan in 2011, Nepal in 2015, Haiti in 2010 and the many that occur in Mexico, among many others. 

Cienfuegos said his main objective is to rescue people. He doesn’t believe that in big disasters, authorities should stop looking for human life after 72 hours. He said he has been able to rescue people beyond that time. 

He recalls the time when he rescued a woman in New Orleans who was trapped in a very small area. Once los Topos found her and realized she was alive, Cienfuegos made his way into the area, and it took him 24 hours to make his way out with the woman alive. All he used was a small pickax. He said when he got tired, he would sleep for a few hours and then continue. 

“There’s not much you can do in a limited space, so you work little by little,” he said. “But we stay in contact with radios with the partners outside.”

The Topos have their jobs, and when they go to rescue missions, they pay for their trip out of pocket. Once they get to the location, they work hand-in-hand with firefighters and paramedics, as they are well-trained. They are experts in first aid, entering collapsed buildings, fighting fires and searching for people after a disaster. 

Topos3

Cienfuegos said he has been in life-threatening situations more than once, but this hasn’t stopped him from still being a Topo. 

“I would rather die on a mission than sitting on my couch, drinking a beer and watching TV,” said Cienfuegos before starting his route in Altadena.

Sanchez has been a Topo since 2009. He said he feels passionate about this work and doesn’t care if he has to sleep on a bed or the floor when he goes on missions.

“My motto is ‘do what's right, no matter what people think,’ and we don’t look at skin color, age or ethnicity. We are here to help,” he said. 

 

Victims of the fires can get their help

Los Topos said that the hardest part of the recovery process in the United States, in general, is the bureaucracy. They cannot walk into the locations and start demolishing, like in third-world countries, because permits are needed. 

Cienfuegos said they are willing to help people, so they drive around the area. The duo will be in Altadena for a few more days. Homeowners who need to rescue items from their homes and want their help can find them at the Pasadena Community Job Center in Altadena. 

The Center is located at 500 N. Lake Ave in Pasadena. 

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.