Good thought request

[hawk4669]

Hello all,

As many of you know, I'm a Fire Captain in Northern California. To make a long story short, one of our rookie firefighters (a kid that I think a lot of and have taken under my wing in his young career) is missing.

He and a friend were taking a kyack (or however it is spelled) trip down a local river yesterday. They were smart enough to tell their girlfriends were they were putting in, and were they'd be taking out. The trouble started when they did not show up for paramedic class yesterday. For two responsible young men (one of them I don't know...he isn't a fireman) this was very odd.

Then today, Nick (the firefighter) did not show up for work. No calls...nothing. They sheriff's department found one of their vehicles where they put in....and the other vehicle where they were supposed to have taken out. Both vehicles cold, and haven't been moved.

My Fire Chief, an experienced river rafter, says the section of river is fairly beneign and poses no HUGE hazards. But, given both of the missing persons lack of experience is big reason for concern.

The local S.O.'s search and rescue team has been activated.

So right now, all of our crews know very little other than they are missing. The worst part is 1. not knowing and 2. being on duty at the firehouse and not being able to DO anything.

Anyways, I don't post on here a lot but I know you guys and gals are pretty good with giving good thoughts, vibes, and prayers (if that is your thing). I'm makin' a request for any of the above right now.

Thanks,

[wbatl1]

Good thoughts headed your way in the hopes that the young men will be safe and sound, hawk4669.

[PurdueBrad]

They're in our prayers, please keep us updated.

[Eaglesfan27]

I'll keep them in my prayers.

[oliegirl]

Definitely putting these two young men in our thoughts and prayers, hopefully they will be found soon and all will be ok.

[DaddyTorgo]

they're in my thoughts. Surprised they didn't have a cellphone or two-way radio or something with them, but I guess at this point what we hope is that one of them is injured and the other decided to stay with the injured guy and wait for SAR to find them rather than strike off and leave the injured guy alone?

[Chief Rum]

Sorry to hear this. I'll pray that they are okay.

[hawk4669]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

they're in my thoughts. Surprised they didn't have a cellphone or two-way radio or something with them, but I guess at this point what we hope is that one of them is injured and the other decided to stay with the injured guy and wait for SAR to find them rather than strike off and leave the injured guy alone?

Still no word.

The area where they went is pretty rural...so not sure cell phone would be of use to 'em. (Our area....FAR northern California still has HUGE gaps in cell phone coverage....in this day and age). Nick (the guy I work with) is usually religious about carrying his cellphone...so no clue on that.

And you know...not knowing anything is the worst part.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by hawk4669

Still no word.

The area where they went is pretty rural...so not sure cell phone would be of use to 'em. (Our area....FAR northern California still has HUGE gaps in cell phone coverage....in this day and age). Nick (the guy I work with) is usually religious about carrying his cellphone...so no clue on that.

And you know...not knowing anything is the worst part.

aaah, so you're up in the woodland - gotcha

well they're in my thoughts, hopefully like I said, it's an injury to one of them and the other decided to stay with them. or an equipement problem (the kayak getting busted open so they have to walk instead of boat).

[hawk4669]

Just got word...and it is good news.

USCG helo located them on a very remote logging road in the hills. Apparantly initial word is they did have an incident on the river where they lost their kyak (I need to learn to spell that damn word), and spent the night in the woods lost.

They're currently being flown to the local Coast Guard air station and are reported to be in good health.

Thanks for the good thoughts, etc. They worked apparantly.

[Tiphnie]

Kayak just so ya know babe :-)

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by hawk4669

Just got word...and it is good news.

USCG helo located them on a very remote logging road in the hills. Apparantly initial word is they did have an incident on the river where they lost their kyak (I need to learn to spell that damn word), and spent the night in the woods lost.

They're currently being flown to the local Coast Guard air station and are reported to be in good health.

Thanks for the good thoughts, etc. They worked apparantly.

great to hear!!

confused as to how they got lost - seems to me that if i was kayaking and we lost the kayak i'd stay by the river where it's clear-ish and I knew people would be looking for me - but anyways glad to hear everyone's okay!!

[hawk4669]

We're now at the firehouse saying rookie boy BETTER have a good story as to how this all happened with details of a mutant otter attack and some Bear Grylls/Les Stroud survival stories of eating raw squirrel or resulting to cannibalism....and it better not be just "I got lost, etc."

Not sure all the details yet as to how it all occurred....but initial details sound like lack of experience and bad decisions played into this.

Idiot. (And I mean that towards him in the most fatherly/loving way possible).

Cheers!

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by hawk4669

We're now at the firehouse saying rookie boy BETTER have a good story as to how this all happened with details of a mutant otter attack and some Bear Grylls/Les Stroud survival stories of eating raw squirrel or resulting to cannibalism....and it better not be just "I got lost, etc."

Not sure all the details yet as to how it all occurred....but initial details sound like lack of experience and bad decisions played into this.

Idiot. (And I mean that towards him in the most fatherly/loving way possible).

Cheers!

least it all turned out for the best!

[Chief Rum]

Glad to hear he and his friend are okay.