Photo Gallery: Search and Rescue Training on the Crest

It wasn't just about making sure they knew the maneuvers.

One of the most important facets of the recent joint training among the Montrose Search and Rescue Team, Los Angeles County Fire Department, United States Forestry Department, and Altadena Search and Rescue Team was whether the teams can communicate together during an emergency rescue situation, said L.A. County Battalion Chief Ron Larriva.

In fact, the fire official likened it to a "relationship building'' exercise.

In 2012, Montrose SAR received 113 calls for service, the most in their 67 year history, according to a press release from the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station.  Twenty-six of those calls were for vehicles (automobiles and/or motorcycles) ”over the side.”  Just for searches, rescues, and cars over the side, the Montrose Search and Rescue Team members donated more than 3,600 hours to the residents of Los Angeles County. This does not include their other 4,000 hours of training and mountain patrols, the release stated.

Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team personnel are reserve sheriff’s deputies who volunteer their time to help others for $1 a year, and who partner with sheriff’s civilian volunteers who volunteer for free. There are more than 150 members of the eight Search and Rescue teams of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who were activated for over 450 search and rescue missions last year, making it one of the most active counties for search and rescue missions in the nation. Reserve deputies and civilian volunteers are supervised by full-time sheriff’s deputies.  If interested in joining our team, call Sgt. Burton Brink at 818-248-3464.

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