FERNDALE, Wash. — Members of the volunteer-based Whatcom County Search and Rescue (SAR) will be conducting a training exercise by the Whatcom County Public Works shop (near the Northwest Soccer Fields) tomorrow evening, Tuesday, October 8th. Part of the exercise will involve a helicopter from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island landing and taking off from a nearby field.
Whatcom County Emergency Management Director John Gargett said the helicopter will arrive and set down in the field. After which SAR members will receive training that will include how to approach and load the helicopter. The helicopter will then lift off and leave from the field.
Gargett said the training is expected to occur between 7pm and 9pm and neighbors around the Northwest Drive and W Smith Road area should not be concerned about the activity.
While WCSAR members are typically dispatched to wilderness locations to rescue lost and/or injured hikers, they were on the ground during a recent incident in Ferndale when they worked with other agencies to rescue a missing 90-year-old man.