By Cindy Gladden, Record Staff Writer
In a continuing effort to hone first responder skills, the Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department staged a search and rescue training event Saturday, March 9. The initial goal of the live drill was to rescue a lost hunter, but as the training exercise evolved, three other people also were reported missing. “This event is to test our capabilities, as a fire department, dispatch and canine search and rescue,” said Jamie Faust, training officer and assistant fire chief. Fire departments participating in the drill included Marthasville, Warrenton and Wright City. In addition, the Marthasville Ambulance District, Warren County emergency dispatch, the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation, the Missouri Region C Technical Rescue Team Canine Division and the Canine Search and Rescue Association were involved. “Our first job is to define a search sector,” said Linda Addy, with the canine rescue organization. “We will need to block out areas for our dogs to search in an organized way.” Pat Horn, of the Region C canine organization said the rain in the area Saturday wouldn’t hamper the bloodhounds — it would actually help. The organization sent six dogs to the rescue activity, including three bloodhounds. Faust said the training scenario began with a lost 66-year-old hunter. Hoping to find his friend, a 55-year-old man began searching, injured himself and was without a cellphone signal. Two young boys also went missing as part of the drill. Chris Diamond, from the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation, came alongside incident commander Michael Niemeyer, to assist with maps and other search information. The organization was founded after then 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck went missing from his home near Richwoods in 2002. Hornbeck was found and reunited with his family several years later. The foundation now helps search for missing or abducted children. It helps first responders by providing search volunteers, computer equipment, mapping capabilities and is associated with canine search and rescue. A mixed breed dog named Bob with his handler Sandra Perry, was the first canine to locate his objective. Lost near a creek bed were the two boys, which Bob quickly befriended and led back to the command center. Firefighters and other searchers found the injured friend nearby. He had to be carried from a wooded area on a gurney because of his injuries. The hunter also was found and returned safely. Faust said the experience led to valuable feedback. “We identified areas where we need to work and also identified our strengths,” he said. “Sometimes training is the best real life experience you’re going to get, and if the real call comes in, we are a lot stronger.” Search-and-rescue canine handler Janet Singleton of the Canine Search and Rescue Association, gives the scent of a missing person to Abbey during a training exercise Saturday, March 9, near Treloar. The exercise was hosted by the Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department.
