The incredibly-rugged Sespe Wilderness near Fillmore is where volunteers and search crews are looking for a 36-year-old firefighter last seen eight days ago, reports CBS Los Angeles.
Michael Herdman, of Arcadia, was camping along a riverbed Friday night in the Los Padres National Forest with his fellow firefighter/paramedic Taylor Byars and Herdman’s dog, Duke.
At some point, Duke ran off and Herdman and Byars went after the animal. They split up and Byars said that was the last time he saw the off-duty firefighter.
Searchers Focus on Catching Missing Firefighters Dog
Officials say five people have been injured during the search, with one rescuer having been bitten on the hand by an enormous rattlesnake, a search spokesman said. Bill Herrera, who is assistant chief at the Fillmore Fire Department, has needed 52 vials of anti-venom serum.
Four others have suffered minor injuries, including a sprained ankle.
Officials suspect that Herdman, who is a seasoned hiker, hasn’t found his way back because he’s been injured. With the weekend’s rising temperatures they say it’s imperative they find him quickly.
More than 50 search and rescue crews from around the Southland, including those from Los Angeles, Orange, Fresno and Kern counties, have joined Ventura County members in the hunt for Herdman.
The search party includes two unmanned aircraft and 86 ground searchers.
Read more of the story here http://cbsloc.al/1rmpV1p
