Elite U.S. fire teams join Japan rescue effort

In the aftermath of the worst earthquake in Japan's history, aid is pouring in from around the world. An elite team of firefighters from Los Angeles County and Fairfax, Va. are helping with search-and-rescue work in Ofunato, Japan.

On "The Early Show" via phone Tuesday, Los Angeles Battalion Fire Chief David Stone discussed their ongoing efforts in Ofunato, 100 miles northeast of Sendai.

Co-anchor Erica Hill asked him what he's seeing on the ground.

Stone said the devastation is "amazing."

Special coverage: Disaster in Japan

"Even though we're over 100 miles from the epicenter and where the tsunami was generated, just the amount of damage and destruction that is caused is mind-boggling," he said.

Hill asked whether their work was about search and rescue or recovery.

"Oh, no, this is definitely search and rescue," he said. "We're just finding the tip of the iceberg. Today, we search probably a one-and-a-half square mile area. We'd had the team from L.A. County, my team, ... plus the Fairfax County, Virginia team and a United Kingdom team with us, and our three teams probably close to 215 members all three together ... and you have 450 square miles, so we have a lot of work to do. The government of Japan decides when we transition from rescue to recovery. As we found in Haiti, we had people that we were able to find, and I think we have a team that rescued someone over two weeks after the disaster. So we always are seeking rescue and hoping there is somebody out there we can save if they're trapped."

What's the biggest challenge in their rescue efforts?

Stone said, "Well, in this situation, with an earthquake, generally the building either cracks or is partially is damaged or goes flat. So for us, it's using our search dogs to locate people. With this storm surge and tsunami, the problem is all of the debris. We have vehicles, boats, lumber. Just all kinds of debris, just piles everywhere. It's stuff you just wouldn't even dream about. We have a car up on top of a roof of a house, one house looked like it rolled many times and was upside down when we got there. We have a big tugboat a mile from any kind of waterway."

Hill thanked him for coming on the broadcast and for his service.

Stone said, "My pleasure. Appreciate everybody out there ... our hopes and prayers (are with) the people affected in Japan and we just hope that we do our mission and we come home safely to our loved ones."

Hill said, "They're lucky to have you there."