For the first time, the Montrose Search and Rescue team hosted a snow and ice re-certification for 18 California Search and Rescue Teams, according to a press release from Sgt. Burton Brink of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station.
The team has been planning this re-certification for the last year and a half. It was to occur in March 2012, but due to lack of snow it was canceled. This year the weather and snow cooperated, and it was a huge success. The recertification was held on March 3 and teams from as far away as San Diego and Placer County attended.
The event was held at the June Mountain Ski Resort in June Lake, California. The town has been decimated since the closing of the June Mountain Ski Resort this year, and this re-certification brought some much needed support to the local businesses and lodging facilities.
From the 18 teams, approximately 350 people attended, trained and re-certified their snow and ice skills. This training tests all the team members on their skills, safety procedures, and patient care and handling. This snow and ice re-certification is only one of three skill sets the teams are tested on every three years.
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 over 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 Sergeant Burton Brink at 818-248-3464.
