Search & Rescue Respond to 6 Emergency Calls During the Weekend

Source: Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue

Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue had numerous responses for service throughout the weekend including our scheduled California Region of the Mountain Rescue Association recertification that had been postponed from March during our response to the debris flows in Montecito. Here’s a brief synopsis of events with photos:

(Friday 8/17 at 3:30pm) Request for K9 search of the Hot Springs Trail area after a vehicle linked to a missing persons case out of LA County was found. This was determined to be the vehicle of the missing LA County Fire Captain. Search was suspended at dark until the next day.

(Saturday 8/18 4:45am) Team members depart the Santa Barbara Station enroute to Simi Valley, CA for our Mountain Rescue Association technical rescue recertification at 7:00am. Members included five from our most recent academy class mixed in with our more seasoned members. The scenario involved a climber that had become stuck and injured on a rock face and requiring rescue. Team members setup a quick rappel to make patient contact and raising and lowering systems to reach the climber with a stretcher for vertical evacuation. A short wheel cart out with a running belay was conducted and the scenario was completed around 10:30am. The team was debriefed by evaluators from other California MRA teams and given the news that the team had passed the evaluation. Members departed the area and went directly to the Command Post setup by other team members for the search off Hot Springs trail for the missing Fire Captain.

(Saturday 8/18 6:00am) At first light the search continued for the LA County Fire captain with additional resources brought in to help from neighboring teams. These resources included the SB County Air Support Unit, CARDA – California Rescue Dog Association K9 teams from across California and more people on foot from teams in the LA area and from up north. Assignments were handed out to the many teams that arrived to help cover the vast trail network in Montecito heavily damaged by the Thomas Fire and debris flows. At around 6pm a body was found in the search area by teams and a recovery was initiated.

(Saturday 8/18 12:45pm) While teams were actively searching in the hills and on the trails in Montecito and the MRA team was just arriving back into Santa Barbara County a call came in of injured hikers in the saddle between La Cumbre Peak and Cathedral Peak. The Command Post at the Montecito search diverted the MRA team to this new call. Upon arrival at La Cumbre Peak a plan was enacted between Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Search & Rescue and the SB County Air Support Unit to hoist the two subject with heat related injuries out of the area and to the Santa Barbara Airport for transport by AMR Santa Barbara. Ground teams remained on standby until the hoists were complete. The MRA teams made themselves available for the search in Montecito and were given assignments to hike down 3 of the trails leading into the Hot Springs area.

(Saturday 8/18 4:45pm) Team response requested for a project lifesaver client that had wandered away from home in Santa Maria. The subject was quickly found by patrol deputies and search cancelled.

(Saturday 8/18 6:30pm) Team members received a call from dispatch that there was a vehicle reported 100-150 feet over the side on Hwy 154 just West of Paradise Rd. Response initiated and teams responded, upon arriving to the scene members quickly geared up and assisted SB County Fire with rope systems and also in bring the single occupant to the roadway. Teams brought he injured motorist to the road and transferred care to AMR for transport to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

(Sunday 8/19 11:30am) Response requested by dispatch regarding an injured hiker in the area of Angostura Pass leading down to the Gibraltar Reservoir. The patient was located by the SB Air Support Unit and care was transferred to AMR for transport, team response cancelled.