Anonymous
By the Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue
Over the past six months, the Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) team has been working hard, training and preparing for emergencies in the community. With a focus on providing timely and effective search and rescue operations, the team has been busy with various activities to enhance their skills and knowledge. Since the start of 2023 the team has responded to 33 calls for service, amounting to over 1,800 hours of volunteer time, as well as over 2,000 hours of time spent training.
As the trails start to re-open, the Search and Rescue Team has seen an increase in call volume. Of the 33 callouts this year, 9 occurred within 10 days at the end of April this year. Most recently the team was called out to help with the rescue of an injured K9 and its owner by the Red Rock day use area on Paradise Road. The Paradise Road area had been largely damaged during our winter storms rendering it unpassable to vehicles. Using high clearance vehicles, the SAR teams drove as far as possible on Paradise Road before starting a 3.5-mile hike, late in the evening, crossing streams of water sometimes waist deep. After making contact with the subject and being evaluated by a team member, (also a veterinarian in real life), it was decided that a carry out of the K9 was necessary due to injuries sustained to its paws. Using a stretcher and wheel to carry the injured K9, the team started the trek back to their vehicles and successfully rescued the K9 and its owner.
In addition to being called for lost or injured hikers, the team also responded to a fatal vehicle accident on Highway 166 where the vehicle plunged approximately 300 feet over the side. As the SBCSAR team members worked on recovering the deceased, they found evidence of a pos of a possible second subject. With this new information, the team proceeded to set up multiple rappel lines to search a large portion of the cliffs above the incident. After several hours searching the hillside and further investigation, CHP was able to confirm that only a single occupant was present in the vehicle at the time of the incident.
Aside from responding to calls, the SBCSAR team spends a tremendous amount of time training and getting ready in various SAR type disciplines including but not limited to rope rescue, Swiftwater rescue, vehicle over the side rescue, snow & ice rescue, etc. If the team is not working on evacuations during the fire season, they may be helping with the winter storm evacuations.
One of the highlights of the past six months was the successful completion of the SAR academy in January, which saw 9 new graduates join the team. This was a significant achievement for the search and rescue team as it ensured that there is a steady supply of qualified members who can respond to emergencies in the community. This was the first academy in 5 years.
In addition to the training events, 12 team members graduated from the State of California Advanced Emergency Management Search Management Course last November. As a follow-up to this course 2 members attended the winter edition of this course focusing on Search Management in the winter environment. These courses provided an opportunity for the team to learn about the latest search and rescue techniques and strategies, which are critical for providing effective rescue operations and mission management.
As a member of the nationally accredited Mountain Rescue Association (MRA), the team is often called to provide evaluators to evaluate and qualify other rescue teams. Recently, two members of the team went to Lake Tahoe to evaluate a potential new MRA team. This was an important opportunity for the team to collaborate with other search and rescue organizations in the state of California and share their expertise.
Overall, the past six months have been very busy and productive for Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue. Through hard work and dedication, the team has continued to enhance their skills and knowledge, ensuring that they are always ready to respond to emergencies in the community. The team remains committed to providing the best possible service to the people of Santa Barbara County, and they are proud to serve as a vital resource for the community.
Learn more at http://www.sbcsar.net/
Bravo! Good work, friends. See you on the trails….