Spokane County volunteers assist with landslide search and rescue efforts

A Spokane County sheriff’s sergeant recently was asked to assist with search and rescue efforts at the Oso landslide site in western Washington. Sgt. Dave Ellis served as Air Tactical Group supervisor, coordinating “air assets,” including four Army Black Hawks, a Navy MH-65 Dolphin, helicopters from King and Snohomish counties and airplanes from the Washington State Patrol used for rescues crew transport, hoist extractions and medevac missions. Ellis oversees the sheriff’s office’s Regional Support Unit’s Air-1 and serves as regional director for the Airborne Law Enforcement Association, a news release said. Spokane County Search and Rescue teams also were asked to assist. Four search dog and handler teams responded — all certified in “live” finds, as well as human remains detection. The teams are volunteers who are donating their time. For more information about the search and rescue teams, visit www.spokanesar.net.