At the last Cal MRA meeting, Bob Gattas of West Valley SAR offered to compile a frequency database for the region's teams. A number of teams still need to complete the form. It can be found at CalMRA Frequency Database Entry Form.
San Bernardino County MRA teams need NOT complete this form.
Effective immediately we have implemented a standardized procedure for registering for all of the Search & Rescue Courses hosted by Volunteer Forces (BSAR, BMC, PVS, TRBC, etc).The procedure will mirror the process that has been used for years to register students for the Basic Search & Rescue Academy. The student will fill out the SAR Course Registration Form and forward it along with a $50.00 check to Volunteer Forces. The $50.00 check will serve to hold the student's spot in the course. The $50.00 check will be returned when the student completes the course. This standardized process along with posting the dates of the trainings 12-18 months in advance will help Volunteer Forces better plan for training needs and schedule instructors.
The SAR Course Registration on the DOCUMENTS page. The dates of all of these trainings through the end of 2010 are currently posted on the calendar.
NOTE - NEW MEMBERS MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY TRAINING UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY SWORN-IN (they are not sworn-in until they have received their Orders and Sheriff's Identification Card).Please do not have new members attempt to register for a course before they are fully sworn-in, their paperwork will not be processed.
Technical rope rescue is one of the more involved activities in which a SAR team can participate. Staying proficient requires regular team and individual practice. 12 students just finished a 7 day Ropes That Rescue course taught by Reed Thorne. There were three days of classroom presentation followed by four days in the field. Rim SAR, West Valley SAR, San Gorgonio SAR, Wrightwood/Phelan SAR, SB Mountain SAR, and the Cave Team sent students to the course.
The callout for a search for a missing hiker in the Mt.
Baldy area came in around 1900, just as we were beginning classroom training on
Map & Compass. Everyone packed up
and left the station, most to head home for their equipment and return for the
rigs. All three vehicles departed the
station around 2000 with 5 members. Other
members were in route from Station 12, and several were responding POV. Staging was established at Baldy Fire.
The Department now has a new mission-ready Area/Wilderness Search Dog Team. A member of the SBSD Search Dog Team, Kola, a Golden Retriever, and I took and passed our final wilderness dog test to become field certified. The final test covers 160 acres with two "lost" subjects placed somewhere out there, and must be completed within four hours.
I want to thank my teammates on the Search Dog Team. Without all their training help and expertise, we would never have made it. Kola in no way is replacing my dear Laddie, but now I have a dog to fill Laddie's shoes when he retires. He has taught Kola everything he knows!
We look forward to working with everyone on the next call-out!
Last year West Valley SAR and the Cave Team were unable to complete their technical rope re-certification with the Mountain Rescue Association due to a search on Baldy. The make-up exam was scheduled for a few months later, only to be canceled due to the fires in L.A. County. The third time is the charm.
The day started with a coin toss to determine who was the "host team". The evaluators wanted to run the test like a mutual aid mission. That is, the host team had requested resources, the mutual aid team would work alongside under the host teams command structure. West Valley "won" the toss and became the host team.
Coroner case 700903045 VN: On Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at about 10:00 AM, 49 year Rancho Cucamonga resident Murray E. Carver left his home ride his motorcycle in the hills north of town. When he did not return that afternoon searches were initiated along the trails he was known to ride. The following day (Thursday, May 7th) at about 11:00 AM, Sheriff Aviation located Carver’s body along a winding trail approximately 3.5 miles north of Chaffey College. An examination will be conducted early next week to attempt to determine the cause of Carver’s death. [05/07/09 1915 VN]
Wednesday started out like any other work day - up at 0500 hours to shower, feed and put the dogs out, grab breakfast, and hit the road for the office. Likewise, the end of my day seemed just like many others - off work at 1600 hours, home to pack up my search dog for a training, and back home about 2045 hours. By then, though, the pager and cell phone were calling me! Deputy Falce was on the phone asking if I was available to join others on the team for a search in the Lytle Creek area. Of course I said “yes”!
This weekend San Bernardino Mountain SAR, Wrightwood/Phelan SAR, and Rim SAR sent members to complete the Technical Rescue Basics Course. The first weekend was spent in the classroom and with practice. The second weekend included two days of field work in addition to a written exam and practical skills check-off.
The Technical Rescue Basic Course began last weekend with classroom instruction and field work at Glen Helen North. Keep watching SBSAR.ORG for updates.
East Valley Mounted Posse hosted the 2009 County Wide Mounted Search & Rescue Training on Saturday April 18th at Wildwood State Park in Yucaipa. The day began with all of the Mounted Search & Rescue Units meeting at the CP for a short Briefing Training courtesy of Mike Ward. The members were then broken up into three composite teams and assigned to one of the three different search scenarios in the park.
News 
