In 2021, the Washington State SAR Planning Unit supported 18 missions located in 8 different Washington counties and in all three Washington national Parks. 83% of these missions were in wilderness areas, and several of the mission spanned a large number of days. Over the last several years, there has been a steady increase in the number of missions for which we provided on-site command and planning staff.
Mission Examples
Notable 2021 mission support included:
- Our first out-of-state mission, in Sitka, Alaska.
- Our cell phone forensics that contributed to successfully locating a homicide victim concealed along a highway in Eastern Washington.
- Planning analyses for two missions that contributed to locating and rescuing two backpackers in remote wilderness areas.
- Extensive on-site planning support for a 12-day mission that successfully located Seattle Fire Department Deputy Chief Schreckengost, who had suffered a fatal fall while hunting in Eastern Washington.
You can read more in our latest newsletter here: WASSPU Winter 2022 Newsletter
(Picture: WASSPU Member Lauren and Det. Ed Christian (King County SAR) survey search areas by helicopter)