Difference between revisions of "Chapter 07: U.S. Forest Service Support"

Revision as of 16:41, 15 September 2008

Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol Manual

U.S. FOREST SERVICE SUPPORT

The TBSP is sponsored by the USFS, and we support them with other activities at their request, such as:

• Snowmobile closure sign posting - under the direction of USFS (Materials and equipment provided by USFS) Snowmobile closure area "enforcement". We report closure violations to dispatch, and by providing visual reports.
• Census of users: especially at Tahoe Meadows (as indicated on the Daily Operations Log)
• Public outreach

SEARCH AND RESCUE

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Tahoe Backcountry does not conduct search and rescue operations. Its members are not required to participate in search or rescue operations conducted by other organizations (usually the county sheriff) in areas we patrol, or in other areas. Patrollers do not supervise or conduct search and rescue operations, and do not participate in such operations without USFS approval. However, whenever someone reports a person missing, the Search and Rescue Initiation Form is filled out as completely as possible with information supplied by the individual(s) reporting the missing person. Those individuals should be asked to stay until the Sheriff arrives, but in the event the reporting individual leaves, we will have the necessary information for the Sheriff. We may conduct hasty searches for lost skiers or snow-mobilers if time and conditions permit, and we are requested to do so by the sheriff. Hasty search procedures will vary with the terrain of each area. Our primary responsibilities with regard to lost persons are to (1) report the incident to the sheriff, (2) obtain thorough information from the reporting party, (3) accurately record such information on the patrol SAR form, and (4) to turn the SAR form and the reporting party over to the sheriff.

Arrangements may be made to register interested patrollers or candidates as search and rescue volunteers with one or more sheriff's offices (Placer, Nevada and Washoe (NV) counties) or the Tahoe Backcountry Search and Rescue Team. Once registered, you are eligible for certain insurance benefits provided by the State of California Office of Emergency Services (OES) if you are injured during an authorized search or rescue operation. More information about TBSP-SAR can be found here.