SPOKANE -- Search and Rescue crews in Haiti faced a pivotal day Friday in the race to help thousands of people trapped under the rubble. Experts say the first three days after an earthquake are critical for saving survivors. That 72-hour mark hit Friday afternoon.

Area firefighters have been watching the rescue efforts on TV. Spokane County Fire District 9's Urban Search and Rescue team will not get the call to help in Haiti as it responds to local and regional disasters only. That’s not stopping team members like District 9 firefighter Jim Thoen from keeping an eye on the disaster in Haiti.

"I don't think there's a firefighter in the United States that, in some part of their heart, doesn't wish they were down there with them," Thoen said.

District 9's team has many of the tools being used by crews from Virginia and California in Haiti including high tech listening devices help locate victims in the rubble. Firefighter and search specialist Matt Turner said sensors can pick up the slightest vibrations from a victim trapped under piles of concrete.

"Sometimes when victims are trapped all they can do is scratch or tap. They don't have the energy to do much else," Turner said.

Once a victim is found, rescuers will drill a hole in the concrete and insert a camera on a long pole to see their condition and position.

"You can camera down there and get a better sense of what's going on," Turner said. "Are they trapped with wood, metal, or concrete? Are their legs trapped or free and we can free them as soon as we breach that hole?"

Thoen says rescuers will also carry simple tools like a metal bar that with leverage can move several hundred pounds. Entire concrete slabs can be lifted by filling air bags with air. District 9's team uses bags that can lift 33-tons.

Lieutenant Steve Tevlin says the rescues are extremely dangerous because the buildings are unstable but firefighters put their lives on the line to help.

"When you're going after a live victim, you'll risk your own life to get them out," Tevlin said.

Thoen, Tevlin and Turner say they are watching and hoping their counterparts in Haiti win the race against time to save the remaining survivors.

"They've got a hard and long job ahead of them," Turner said.