SBSAR News & Info

Boots on the Trail: To San Bernardino Peak and Back

John Metzger — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:24:54 +0000

The weather the week before was a mixed bag of 100+ temps, monsoons, high winds and lightning, but by Sunday 8-29 the weather was with us. The start of the hike had temps in the high 40's and by the time we summited at 11:10 it was in the low 50's with a light breeze.

Director's Dialogue September 2010

Dave Nicolet — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:02:01 +0000

All of our SAR units this last month or two have been extremely busy with callouts here in our county and other counties as well. On behalf of the Department, Volunteer Forces and the SAR Council we would like to thank you for all of your time and dedication. It has been amazing to see our units working together as one and how our members have handled the merging of unit personnel while in the field. It has been a positive experience for all members involved and once again reinforces the fact that it takes teamwork to have successful results on the missions that we are involved with. Teamwork is what it is all about at all times! Keep up the great work!

Boots on the Trail

John Metzger — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:34:54 +0000

The name, "Boots on the Trail", came from my friend Steve Mills (aka old man mountain) I have been hiking with him for years and we would set a time to meet at the trail head but once there it would take some people longer to be ready to hit the trail than others, so Steve started saying that we would have "boots on the trail" at a certain time that way everyone knew we would be hiking at that time.

SAR Dog Team Helps Locate Missing Teen

Jeff Lehman — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:58:26 +0000

17 year old Anyssia Escamilla, of Bloomington, was found in a landfill after more than 70 days of searching. Her boyfriend is charged with her murder as well as that of her unborn child. The SAR Dog Team was instrumental in finding Miss Escamilla. Read the story at the Press-Enterprise for more information.

Cave Team Assists in Mock Rescue

Jeff Lehman — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:54:25 +0000

The Cave and Technical Rescue Team (@CaveRescue) assisted with a National Cave Rescue Commission Orientation to Cave Rescue course at California Caverns. The OCR is a two-day introduction to cave rescue that ends with a cave rescue exercise. The Cave Team personnel provided all of the victims for the scenario, and served as the command staff. 4 "lost" cavers with varying injuries were located, packaged, and evacuated. More than 20 students participated.

Investigative Tracking Class

Jeff Lehman — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:26:31 +0000

An investigative tracking class taught by Darryl Heller and Jeff Joling will be held on September 15-16, 2010. Please read the flyer for details. There is NO cost for SAR personnel.

Talk About a Hot Evidence Search

Daryl Schendel — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 01:51:45 +0000

View Evidence Search near Zzyzx Rd. in a larger map

It's Saturday afternoon, 1600 and its 104 degrees in the shade in Barstow. A request for the Barstow Desert Rescue Squad comes in for a hasty team to assist in an investigation this side of Baker.

An hour later we hit the Zzyzx exit with the temperature now over 112. The quads are unloaded and a grid search is started to the North. A typical off-the-freeway-dump-your-trash location, and some remains of an old highway. The search area consists of washes, hills and a unique sandy area with waist high weeds. After hours of searching some items were located that will hopefully be helpful in the investigation.

Read the press release for this incident.

In Memory of Scott Johnston and Phil Calvert

Jeff Lehman — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:31:00 +0000

On July 17, 2004 five members of the San Gorgonio Search and Rescue Team were enroute to assist in a search in Joshua Tree National Park when a horrific traffic accident occurred on State Route 62. Please visit San Gorgonio SAR's website to read a fitting memorial for Scott and Phil.

Search in the Mojave Preserve (7/7/2010)

Steve DePue — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:47:01 +0000

On July 7, 2010 at about 3:30am, the Barstow Desert Rescue Squad got a call for a 26 year old male who had gotten his Toyota Yaris stuck somewhere in the Mojave National Preserve. He has no idea where he is. He has abandoned his vehicle and is walking North with no water and no food.

View Mojave Preserve Search (7/7/2010) in a larger map

Director's Dialogue July 2010

Dave Nicolet — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:18:53 +0000

It was a very busy month during June for just about all of our SAR units. Countywide callouts, mutual aid callouts and local station callouts! My-gosh it has been slow, then like always everything hits at once.