Forest closure didn't slow rescue activity

Montrose Search and Rescue Team members responded to 77 calls in 2002, same as 2001.

By Gretchen Hoffman
News-Press

January 2 2003

MONTROSE -- Despite the closure of the Angeles National Forest for more than a month, members of the Montrose Search and Rescue Team responded to the same number of calls in 2002 as they did the year before.

The Angeles National Forest -- the stomping grounds of the 25-member team -- was closed Sept. 24 due to extreme fire danger after two major fires devastated portions of it. It reopened Nov. 8 following the first rainstorm of the season.

But that didn't translate into a slow month for the volunteer rescuers. They responded to three calls in October, as compared to four in October 2001. They were called out 77 times in 2002 and in 2001.

"With the closure of the forest, we had no searches in September, October, November or December, where typically we would have three to four a month during that time of the year," team spokesman Mike Leum said.

"But we had additional deployments to other emergencies such as the fires."

Team members were called to lend a hand at a fire in Azusa, two in Big Tujunga Canyon and one in Little Tujunga Canyon.

"The fires were all relatively close to our vicinity," Leum said. "There was a need for our services and potential evacuations that might be required."

They also rescued 59 people and found 26 others. Seven people were found dead, and two dogs were rescued. The heaviest month was June, with 12 calls.

The team logged 4,636 hours in 2002.

"Even though the forest was closed for activity, the roads were open so we still had 'car-overs,'" Leum said.

The team is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.