DeschutesNational Forest Supplement to

The Memorandum of Understanding

between

OregonState Sheriffs’ Association

and

USDAForest Service

Pacific Northwest Region

  1. Purpose

This supplement fulfills the direction found within Memorandum of Understanding NFS 01-MU-11060000-051 to develop a mutual annual plan for search and rescue activities between the local CountySheriffs and the Forest Supervisors. In addition, this plan covers procedures for requesting Forest Service assistance for search and rescue operations on National Forest lands, and obtaining authorization for use of mechanized/motorized equipment within National Forest Wilderness Areas. This supplement is consistent with the direction provided in the above referenced MOU, including Attachment A.

  1. Statement of Mutual Benefit and Interests: Responsibilities

By provision of ORS 401-560, the Sheriff of each County has the responsibility for search and rescue activities within the County.

The Forest Service has a national policy (1599-03 Emergency Operations) that the Forest Service role in search and rescue is one of supporting and developing strong local and state leadership.

The Forest Supervisor, or their delegate, is responsible for the approval to use mechanized/motorized equipment, cargo drops and landing of aircraft inside the boundary of areas classified as National Forest Wilderness.

It is of mutual benefit to conduct search and rescue operations in a way that is responsive to the party in need and sensitive to Wilderness values.

The CountySheriff and Forest Supervisor, or their designees, will meet on an annual basis to review, coordinate and improve search and rescue procedures.

  1. The CountySheriff shall:
  1. Provide early notice to the Forest Supervisor of all search and rescue operations where Forest Service assistance is requested or that are within National Forest Wilderness or other known sensitive areas by contacting the CentralOregonInteragencyDispatchCenter at (541) 416-6800.
  2. Obtain approval from the Forest Supervisor, or their designee, before initiating mechanized/motorized search and rescue equipment within areas classified as National Forest Wilderness, in accordance with the attached approval guidelines (Attachment A).
  3. Consider non-mechanized alternatives for operations in National Forest Wilderness before making a request to use mechanized/motorized equipment.
  4. Request a Forest Service Representative be appointed to the command structure for all extended search and rescue operations.
  5. Under an extended search and rescue operation coordinate all communications with the appointed Forest Service Representative.
  6. Present an Annual Operating Plan for training needs to occur on the DeschutesNational Forest.
  1. The Forest Service shall:
  1. Immediately notify the Sheriff or designee of a search and rescue activity and relinquish the temporary lead role at time of notification.
  2. Approve the use of mechanized/motorized equipment within areas classified as National Forest Wilderness in accordance with the attached approval guidelines (Attachment A).
  3. Designate a Representative for all search and rescue operations within National Forest Wilderness or in other areas when the forest service has been requested to provide assistance.
  4. Provide search and rescue contacts for the CountySheriff and expedite response to requests for search and rescue assistance and/or authorization.
  1. The CentralOregonInteragencyDispatchCenter shall:
  1. Notify the Forest Supervisor or designee of a search and rescue operation after being notified of such an operation by the CountySheriff, or their designated representative.
  2. Utilize the following contact list (Attachment B) for timely notification of the Forest Supervisor or designee. Field units most closely involved in the search and rescue operation should be the first level of contact.
  3. Notify an adjacent National Forest and CountySheriff when it is apparent that the search and rescue operation could involve them, or when it is requested by the forest supervisor or their designee to do so for coordination or courtesy purposes.

In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have executed this supplement as of the last date written below.

______

Leslie A.C. WeldonDateLes StilesDate

Forest SupervisorSheriff

DeschutesNational ForestDeschutesCounty

ATTACHMENT A

Approval Guidelines for use of Motorized and Mechanical Equipment

for Search and Rescue within Wilderness

RESCUE

Always Approve:

1.Removal of deceased persons.

2.Removal of people with obvious life threatening injuries; e.g., heart attack, stroke, serious bleeding, fractured skull, hypothermia.

3.Whenever there is real doubt as to whether or not the injury is life threatening.

Usually Approve:

1.Injury is not life threatening, but delay in rescue or rescue transportation by hand litter or stock may result in additional injury or serious complications resulting from the initial injury; e.g., broken leg where the pain resulting from the primitive transportation would put the person into shock, serious cut from a source with high potential for infection.

2.Injury is not life threatening but it is serious and the present and/or predicted weather would likely cause delays in travel that would make the injury life threatening.

3.Where the topography or footing is so hazardous that it will expose the injured person or the rescue team to a very high probability of additional or new serious injury (approval here might depend on the skill or experience of the rescue team).

Never Approve:

1.When the injury is not life threatening and the person can be transported by non-motorized or non-mechanical means to the nearest logical point of rescue; e.g., simple fracture of arm, sprained ankle.

SEARCH

This pertains only to those items requiring Forest Service approval, i.e., airdrops, landing of aircraft in wilderness or the use of motorized or mechanical equipment in the wilderness.

Always Approve:

1.There is good reason to believe that the person being searched for has a life threatening injury; e.g., person was last seen wandering in a daze.

2.There is good reason to believe the lost person will be placed in a life-threatening situation a result a predicted adverse change in the weather; e.g., person was lightly dressed and weather conducive to hypothermia is predicted.

3.The only potential rescuers are not physically capable of accomplishing the search without motorized or mechanical equipment.

4.When there is an external situation requiring immediate location of a person within the wilderness; e.g., immediate relative is in a critical medical situation.

5.When there is doubt concerning whether or not the situation is life threatening.

Usually Approve:

A close relative has died and the family has requested the person be located so they can perform a necessary function within uncontrollable time constraints.

Never Approve:

1.There does not appear to be any real indications that the person is in a life-threatening situation; e.g., person in good health, dressed for the situation, is slightly overdue.

2.Outside request is made to locate a person for noncritical external reasons; e.g., attend funeral of a friend, to make financial decisions, to see if person is okay.

3.The specific requested method will result in serious physical impact to the wilderness and there are alternate methods that accomplish the objectives of the search without the impacts.

Attachment B

1)Call individuals on this list according to the affected Ranger District

2)Notify Eugene Interagency Dispatch @ (541) 225-6400 for all SAR’s that mayinvolve lands under the jurisdiction of the Willamette NF

Contact PersonWork PhoneHome PhonePagerCellular

Forest Supervisor, DeputyForest Supervisor & Law Enforcement

*Leslie Weldon, F.S.383-5512383-9376480-7071

*Kevin Martin, DFS383-5709318-5027410-6269

*Larry Timchak416-6625416-9626410-0836

Lisa Fisher, P.C.383-5798617-8311419-0126

Fire Management

Chris Hoff416-6744416-9323410-2968

Sisters Ranger District

*Bill Anthony, D.R.549-7701617-8151617-8151410-7630

Kirk Metzger, F.A.549-7710595-6362312-0212408-2529

Gabe Chladek, F.A.549-7710549-6692?Hoodoo Ski Patrol410-9489

Fred Perl, LEO549-7641330-7369385-0067480-8073

Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger District

*Walt Schloer, D.R.383-4760388-0769

Chris Sabo, F.A.383-4795383-3986

Kent Koeller, F.A.383-4776317-0232

Rico Burgess, L.E.O.383-4796389-9828385-4863480-8076

Hadley Hawkins,LEO383-4782322-6993617-6648480-5191

Contact PersonWork PhoneHome PhonePagerCellular

Crescent Ranger District

*Phil Cruz, D.R.433-3201536-6100480-7098

Sean Reed, L.E.O.433-3255433-2960317-5482480-8074

Bret Kerr, F.A.433-3206433-5342

Lookout Mtn. Ranger District

*Art Currier, D.R.416-6449447-3437419-1886

Julie Lombard, L.E.O416-6422447-9027480-8072

Paulina Ranger District

*Mike Lawrence, DR477-6901477-3403279-1359

Julie Lombard, L.E.O416-6422447-9027480-8072

Crooked River National Grassland

*Kristin Bail, D.R.416-6448416-8200

Glenn Adams, F.A.416-6640447-8925280-5881

* Indicates people who are authorized to approve mechanized/motorized search and rescue operations in National Forest Wilderness Areas

F.S. = Forest SupervisorD.F.S. = DeputyForest Supervisor

D.R. = District RangerF.A. = Field Advisor/Liaison

P.C. = Patrol Captain L.E.O. = Law Enforcement Officer

DeschutesCounty Sheriff Office – Search and Rescue Coordinator

Sgt. Dan Swearingen388-6502388-8825383-9171480-1072

DeschutesCounty9-1-1 Service District – 24 Hour Dispatch388-0170