Search Dog Teams Deploy to Los Angeles Fires
SDF-trained human remains detection (HRD) team Jon Munguia & Clifford of Los Angeles County Fire Department and live-find SDF-trained teams Josh Davis & Bosco and Garreth Miller & Reva of California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3), and Patrick Easton & Linus and Eric Lieuwen & Ridge of California Task Force 7 (CA-TF7) have deployed to the Los Angeles fires along with their teammates to assist in the aftermaths of the blazes that have devastated the region in recent days.
The first incident in this series of wildfires started around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, with the Eaton fire in Altaden and the Hurst fire in Sylmar starting later that same day. Since then, numerous other wildfires have ignited all over Los Angeles County, aided by dry conditions and driven by high-speed and erratic winds.
With gusts reaching 100 mph in some areas, air support to combat the fires was severely limited or grounded altogether in the first crucial hours after the fires started, hindering firefighting efforts and allowing the blazes to spread rapidly. Although the worst of the windstorm has passed, fire weather warnings remain in effect for Los Angeles County for the next several days, making containment more difficult.
Due to the size and ferocity of these fires, Los Angeles County has asked for and received help from numerous other agencies across the state. According to the Governor’s office, approximately 7,500 state personnel are currently on the ground in Southern California, working with local and federal partners to respond to these historic wildfires. Additional personnel, equipment, and support also continue to arrive from other states across the country.
Our hearts go out to all those affected by these devastating fires that have swept through many parts of Los Angeles. The intensity, speed and destructiveness is unlike anything this area has ever seen and we continue to keep everyone in our thoughts as they navigate the difficult days ahead.
We send our deepest gratitude to the many firefighters, both local and from all over the West Coast, who continue to work around-the-clock to protect lives and homes from these fires, as well as cover regular operations at fire stations throughout the cities. Be safe and thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
MEET THE BOOTS AND PAWS ON THE GROUND FOR THE LOS ANGELES FIRES HERE!
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
SearchDogFoundation.org
(805) 646-1015
Chief Executive Officer: Rhett Mauck
Mission
Our mission is to strengthen disaster response in America by rescuing and recruiting dogs and partnering them with firefighters and other first responders to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters.
Begin to Build a Relationship
We know you care about where your money goes and how it is used. Connect with this organization’s leadership in order to begin to build this important relationship. Your email will be sent directly to this organization’s Director of Development and/or Executive Director.
Watching the Search Dog Foundation grow from a small group of ardent volunteers into the nationally recognized organization it is today has been an inspiration and an honor.
As a longtime philanthropist and volunteer for many organizations through the years, the sense of passion and perseverance and collective drive toward reaching a goal is one of the hallmarks of a great group of people united for a cause. The Search Dog Foundation’s staff, Board of Directors, volunteers, and many supporters across the country have an insatiable need to keep growing and improving their work and the services provided.
As a team, we know we will continue to strengthen disaster response in this country. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of so many – both human and canine.
Sponsor the Canine Heroes
The frequency and strength of recent disasters are stark reminders that they can strike at the heart of any community. In the search for victims, a search dog’s remarkable nose and hard-earned skills mean the difference between days versus minutes, lost versus found, uncertainty versus hope. The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) works diligently to ensure canine search teams across America can deploy at a moment’s notice when needed, which includes preparing the next generation of canine heroes.
From the day they arrive on campus to the day they are paired with first responders, SDF spends approximately $60,000 to train a search dog over 10 to 12 months.
SDF is raising $900,000 to train the next search dog graduates. Donors at $20,000 and above can become sponsors of a search dog in training, receiving updates on their progress and milestones throughout their career. Sponsor one or even a pack of canine heroes to be Part of the Search!
Board of Directors
George Leis – Board Chair
President and COO,
Montecito Bank & Trust
Richard Butt – Board Vice Chair
Retired EVP, Executive Creative
Director, VMLY&R
Mike J. Diani – Secretary
President, Diani Building Corp.
Christine DeVries
Management Consultant
Robert Harris, Battalion Chief,
Los Angeles County Fire Dept.
Rhett Mauck, CEO, National
Disaster Search Dog Foundation
Sydne Rennie, Attorney,
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Deborah Whiteley,
Communications Consultant
Crystal Wyatt, Leadership in
Board Governance and Creative
& Sustainable Philanthropy