State search, rescue teams train at Camp Bucoco
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Dogs sniffed around Camp Bucoco Friday, April 21, as they led their handlers through woods and off-road terrain that eventually would end when they found the “X” that marked the spot.
The dogs and their handler groups were given tasks to find tracks that would lead them to certain items they were looking for during a training event for search and rescue teams that continues through the weekend.
Chris Ruch, chief of Allegheny Mountain Rescue, said despite the advancement of technology that has helped streamline search efforts, human and animal trackers remain the key to successful search and rescue operations.
“There are definitely new techniques and new technology,” Ruch said. “There’s new mapping tools and drones, but for a lot of situations, you still need boots on the ground to search.”
The Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Council is hosting its annual training summit this weekend at Camp Bucoco, where more than 140 members of search and rescue teams across the state brushed up on their techniques.
Ruch said it’s the first time the training summit has taken place in Western Pennsylvania, and it gave way to different kinds of exercises than what has been performed in its usual site in Lancaster County.
“We’re having a search management class, ground search situations, shelter-building and firemaking classes,” Ruch said. “There is a little bit of everything going on.”
While many search and rescue departments have ongoing training for their staff, Ruch said the annual summit gives people a chance to train with people they normally wouldn’t work alongside.
With the number of people who participate in search and rescue efforts, Ruch said it is beneficial for officials to work with a variety of personalities.
“Successful search and rescues use all kinds of efforts,” he said. “It’s really when everyone is working together that these things are successful.”
Larry Daberko, a volunteer firefighter with Library Volunteer Fire Company, attended the summit to take certification tests for different types of searches. At around noon Friday, he was gearing up for his tests.
“I’m doing my testing work in human remains detection,” Daberko said. “I know some people can’t handle it, but I think I’ll be OK with it.”
Daberko said attending the summit gave him the opportunity to gain knowledge and hands-on experience.
“It’s an interesting application of skills,” Daberko said.
