A Day in the Life: Search and Dive Rescue
Photos by MANDI BATEMAN Search and Dive Rescue Team One spots a truck matching the missing fisherman’s truck during a mock search on Saturday, and calls in the information.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Team One, Search and Dive Rescue volunteers Evan Phillips and Sruart Yoder arrive at Brush Lake.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Boundary Search and Dive Rescue volunteer Evan Phillips approaches people at Brush Lake to see if they might have seen anything that could help in their search.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Search and Dive Rescue volunteer Evan Phillips with the missing fisherman's kayak during the mock search.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Frequent calls for the missing subject are key in locating someone who may be lost off the trail.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Using a high vantage point to look for clues.
Despite the extremely hot weather, the volunteers trained hard, treating the mock search just like a real case. For more photos, visit www.bonnersferryherald.com.
Search and Dive Rescue volunteer Stuart Yoder inspects a clue, a pair of pants, checking to see if the size matched that of the missing fisherman.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Even while hiking in the hot weather, the SAR volunteers were able to spot a subtle clue like this footprint, which they checked for size and type of footwear.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN SAR volunteer Evan Phillips joined the Boundary Search and Dive Rescue team four years ago.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Looking for clues off the trail.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN When the missing subject was found, no detail was spared as SAR volunteer Stuart Yoder wrapped his ankle as the scenario called for him to have a sprained ankle.
BONNERS FERRY — On a hot day, with the sun beating down, when many people prefer to spend their weekend relaxing at home or lounging by a lake, Evan Phillips joined his team, scouring the county in a mock search, attempting to locate a man playing the part of a missing fisherman.
Despite taking over a new business, Phillips chooses to volunteer his time to train for the time when he and his fellow teammates are called upon. The Boundary Search and Dive Rescue Team is made up of all volunteers, but just the desire to help is not enough. They must train, everything from first aid, to tracking, to radio operation, and more.
One training that they took part in was a 24 hour course in May.
“It is a basic skills course that we are teaching our members so they have the foundational skills to operate in the field as search and rescue members,” said Boundary Search and Dive Rescue Team Vice Commander Tony Jeppesen. “Our course covers everything from survival to search techniques, compass work and navigation, as well as GPS use. It covers the U.S. National SAR system, as well as the International SAR System, and the SAR system that we have here in the state of Idaho.”
They also trained in the field during the latter portion of the 24 hour training, practicing firecraft, how to build a shelter, how to use an emergency action shelter, how to survive out in the wilderness, and practice navigation.
Just learning the skills and knowledge is not always enough. They put it all together in complex mock searches, utilizing civilians to help play the part of the missing subject, as well as other people that the SAR team members may come across, giving them clues if they ask the right questions.
On July 14, Phillips met with other team members to participate in a mock search. Phillips has been volunteering with Boundary Search and Dive Rescue for four year.
“Before that I was involved with Civil Air Patrol, from age 12 to 18,” said Phillips. “I did a lot of search and rescue training there.”
Phillips was assigned to Team One along with Boundary Search and Dive Rescue Team member Stuart Yoder. All the team members were given the scenario:
A 35 year old fisherman from Bonner County had gone missing after leaving to fish in a lake north of Bonners Ferry. The subject was last seen driving a Red 2006 Ford F350 with a yellow kayak in the back. They also received a picture and description of the missing man.
Phillips took some rough notes and then condensed them down into pocket size notebook.
“The more information a family can offer, the better,” he explained. “This is a big county with lots of places to look.”
Three teams set off in a hasty search, which is the initial process, going to the lakes north of Bonners Ferry, looking for clues and signs of the truck. Along the way they stopped to talk to people, always prefacing each conversation by letting the people know that this was just an exercise.
“They are a great resource because they can be eyes and ears,” said Phillips. “For example, there were eight of us that showed up for training, but there are a lot more people in the county. It is information gathering, intelligence gathering, to speed up the finding process.”
The truck was located at Brush Lake fairly quickly and all teams converged there, at which point they discovered that their radios did not all work is well as they would have hoped.
“One of the difficulties in the this county is radio communications. There are a lot of dead zones and if that is the case then we will set up a relay,” explained Phillips. “Whoever has the best signal will relay the message from the command post to the teams out in the field.”
The search began as they found an empty kayak and began systematically searching for the missing fisherman with guidance from Command Base.
Phillips and Yoder found clues, a footprint in the dust and later a pair of pants off the side of trail. They continued along their search after documenting the location of the clues. Like a puzzle, the team worked together, and after hours of searching Yoder noticed something reflective high on the hillside. Leaving the trail, he continued toward the source of the light.
Yoder called out, as did all the searchers, on a regular basis, and he heard a returned call. Phillips quickly followed after him as they narrowed in on the subject of their search.
Hot and tired, after covering about four miles, heavy packs on their back and in the hot sun with little shade, they located their subject. A successful end to a successful search.
“One of the benefits of being an unpaid professional, and being a volunteer is that, with a little bit of patience with the organization, and some dedication timewise, you can really get out and see the county and get skills,” said Phillips. “You really get to see things that most other people do not.”
“There is a lot of opportunity for personal growth and to be part of a team,” he continued. “The other members of the team are also looking to improve themselves and be on their best game, and that is a great environment to work in.”
The team returned to base command and they all discussed the highlights of the search, as well as areas that they could improve to act more efficiently. The time the members of Boundary Search and Dive Rescue volunteers spend in training is crucial to their ability to locate a missing person in the quickest time possible.