When Not Responding to Calls, Search & Rescue Team in Training
By: Charles Gelinas of Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue
Published: April 30th, 2023 @ 3:16 pm
Source: Noozhawk
Over the past six months, the Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) team has been training and preparing for emergencies in the community.
And with good reason.
Since the start of 2023, the team has responded to 33 calls for service, amounting to more than 1,800 hours of volunteer time, as well as more than 2,000 hours of time spent training.
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.
As the trails start to re-open, the Search and Rescue Team (SAR) has seen an increase in call volume. Of the 33 call-outs this year, nine occurred in the last 10 days.
Most recently, the team was called 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 winter storms, rendering it impassable to vehicles.
Search and Rescue team members train for snow rope rescues. (Courtesy photo)
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 K9 and being evaluated by a team member, (who happens to be a veterinarian), it was decided the dog needed to be carried out because its paws were injured.
Using a stretcher and wheel to carry the K9, the team started the trek back to their vehicles and successfully rescued the dog 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. The vehicle plunged about 300 feet over the side of the road.
As the SBCSAR team members worked on recovering the victim, they found evidence of a possible second subject. With this new information, the team 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 confirmed that only one person was in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
When not responding to calls, the SBCSAR team spends considerable time training and getting ready in various SAR-type disciplines, including but not limited to rope rescue, swiftwater rescue, vehicle-over-the-side rescue, and snow and ice rescue.
If not working on evacuations during the fire season, the team may be helping with the winter storm evacuations.
One highlight of the past six months was the successful completion of the SAR academy in January, which saw nine new graduates join the team. This was a significant achievement for the search and rescue team as it ensured there is a steady supply of qualified members who can respond to emergencies in the community. This was the first academy in five 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, two members attended the winter edition of the course, focusing on search management in the winter environment. The 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, the team is often called to provide evaluators to evaluate and qualify other rescue teams.
Recently, two team members went to Lake Tahoe to evaluate a potential new MRA team. This was an opportunity for the team to collaborate with other search-and-rescue organizations in California and share their expertise.