header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 18
1919 - Fire destroys abandoned second Southern Hotel, built 1878 in Newhall (corner Main & Market) [story]
Second Southern Hotel


| Thursday, Jun 19, 2014
 
Rewind 10 Seconds
Next Up
00:00
00:00
00:00
Fullscreen
This video file cannot be played.(Error Code: 224003)
Video: L.A. County Sheriff's Department

[KHTS] – The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team is one of several groups seeking an off-duty Arcadia firefighter who disappeared Friday in the Fillmore area, officials said Thursday.

Mike Herdman, 36, an experienced hiker, was in the Fillmore area of the Los Padres National Forest and separated from his friend, another off-duty firefighter with whom he was camping.

“They were intending on going on a four-day backpacking trip (Friday),” said Sgt. Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. “By Friday night, Mike Herdman’s dog took off running down a creek.”

Herdman took off barefoot, without his pack, to chase down his dog, according to his friend who was a less-experienced hiker, Buschow said.

The friend eventually headed back to safety after not hearing from Herdman, Buschow said.

“The other gentleman was able to walk out, but it took him two days (to get from their campsite),” Buschow said. The lost hiker who made his way back was not identified by Sheriff’s Department officials.

He encountered two fisherman on his way out who told officials they probably saved the man’s life, because he was dehydrated and exhausted when he found them Sunday.

The incident was reported to the Sheriff’s Department after the lost hiker was able to attain cellphone service.

By Thursday morning, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Teams were joined by volunteer search team deputies from Santa Clarita Valley, San Luis Obispo, Crescenta Valley and even the Department of Homeland Security.

The federal agency used unmanned drone aircraft to search the area for Herdman.

The rescue effort spotted the dog Wednesday, said Tony Buttita, a member of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s Search and Rescue Team.

However, the dog was “skittish,” he said, and ran away when approached.

Herdman’s wife was on scene Wednesday, and officials hoped she might be able to help relocate the dog, and subsequently, Herdman.

“From where I stand, at the command post, it’s a two-day walk just to get where he disappeared,” Buschow said, adding that while the location was remote, temperatures were relatively mild and there was a water supply in the area. “We’re inserting teams in places where he was last seen — we’re helicoptering them in, or the search would take forever.”

Sheriff’s Station officials continue to search the area as of noon Thursday.

The volunteers and deputies are trying to remain optimistic and focused on the search, said Buttita, a 14-year member of the Search and Rescue Team.

“This guy is kind of young,” he said. “and I’ve seen miracles.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

11 Comments

  1. Praying for him to be found!

  2. I hope they find him soon.

  3. Jim Oge Jr says:

    Would like to offer our jeeps for transport or going deeper in the forest.

  4. Unfortunately they haven’t found him but they did come across his dog.

  5. I pray for his safe return and his pup

  6. Dorene Tapp says:

    Praying that he will be found soon.

  7. Denice Olsen says:

    I’m wondering if their is some foul play..many days have passed by and no clues from him, no markers made by him.. Just something doesn’t seem right. I hope I am wrong. His family is going through hell :/

  8. Thomas Elsbury says:

    Our Fish and Wildlife have over-hunted California’s deer for decades by hunting them during their rutting cycle when they have only one thing on their mind. On top of that they stopped the hunting of their natural enemy: Mountain lions. Thus there are now over 5,000 in Ca. where there was only 500 thirty years ago Topping that this is the time of year female lions are raising their cubs. They too are instilled with motherly love like most people and will do anything to keep their offspring from starving. Once they kill a human their first instinct is to cart the body back to the cave their cubs are secluded in. Thus the body is never found. Wildlife Biologist TJ Elsbury.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration Time 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Progress: 0%
Stream TypeLIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Monday, Mar 17, 2025
June 21: Santa Clarita Dodger Day Returns
The city of Santa Clarita invites residents to purchase tickets for the 46th Annual city of Santa Clarita Dodger Day.
Monday, Mar 17, 2025
Schiavo Advances Public, Victim, Small Business Safety Legislation
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, has introduced a legislation package which includes the Victim and Witness Protection Act (AB 535), Small Business Retail Theft Grants (AB 949), Police Pension Tax Exemption (AB 814) and protecting funding for crime victims (VOCA Funding Act) in the state budget.
Monday, Mar 17, 2025
March 17-22: Eight Productions Filming in SCV
The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of eight productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, March 17 to Saturday, March 22.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1919 - Fire destroys abandoned second Southern Hotel, built 1878 in Newhall (corner Main & Market) [story]
Second Southern Hotel
The regular meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board of Trustees will be held Wednesday, March 19, beginning with a closed session at 6:15 p.m., followed by an open session at 7 p.m.
March 19: Hart Board Considers Appointment of Fiscal Services Director
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce for a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting at Beyond Harmony Medical Spa & Luxury Aesthetics, Wednesday, March 26 at 4 p.m.
March 26: Beyond Harmony Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting
The city of Santa Clarita invites residents to purchase tickets for the 46th Annual city of Santa Clarita Dodger Day.
June 21: Santa Clarita Dodger Day Returns
The Small Business Development Center and city of Santa Clarita will host two Enhancing Your Digital Footprint series webinars, noon-1 p.m. Wednesdays, March 19 and 26.
March 19, 26: Enhancing Your Digital Footprint Series
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, has introduced a legislation package which includes the Victim and Witness Protection Act (AB 535), Small Business Retail Theft Grants (AB 949), Police Pension Tax Exemption (AB 814) and protecting funding for crime victims (VOCA Funding Act) in the state budget.
Schiavo Advances Public, Victim, Small Business Safety Legislation
On Wednesday, April 2 6-8:30 p.m., Serata Italiana, the renowned Italian language and culture club, will host an exclusive event at Total Wine & More featuring real estate expert Natalie Blancardi and a virtual introduction to Italian attorney Antonello Pierro.
April 2: Total Wine & More Hosts Serata Italiana Event
The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of eight productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, March 17 to Saturday, March 22.
March 17-22: Eight Productions Filming in SCV
The track teams of The Master's University maintained their strong start to the 2025 outdoor season at the Ross and Sharon Irwin Classic on Saturday. March 15 in San Diego. Five standards were added and 11 top-10 marks in school history were achieved.
Mustangs’ Track Teams Crush Point Loma Meet
The Master's University men's basketball team's season ended Saturday night, March 15 as the Southern Oregon Raiders defeated the Mustangs 76-71 in The MacArthur Center.
Season Ends for TMU Men’s Hoops
Old Town Newhall has earned its title as Santa Clarita’s Premier Arts and Entertainment District and has also become well-known as a hub for prime dining and shopping.
Ken Striplin | Stimulating the SENSES in Old Town Newhall
The Master's University women's basketball team's season came to an end with its first round loss in the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament on Saturday, March 15.
Season Ends in Oklahoma for Lady Mustangs
Braden Van Groningen collected 24 kills as The Master's University men's volleyball team came back to defeat the OUAZ Spirit 23-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-13 Saturday afternoon, March 15 in The MacArthur Center.
Mustangs Get to 4-0 With Four-Set Win Over OUAZ
1927 - Newhall telephone exchange, est. 1900, now serves 100 phones [story]
telephone
2003 - Lifesize sculpture honoring heroes of St. Francis Dam disaster unveiled in Santa Paula [video]
The Warning
1942 - Emery Whilton's Florafaunium opens in Lebec [story]
Florafaunium
Today in SCV History (March 15)
After the January wildfires, the county began a review to assess our evacuation policies and emergency alert systems. The state has also commissioned a review of our preparedness efforts, immediate response to the fires and the recovery time frame of the incident.
Kathryn Barger | Wildfire Analysis
Island Pacific Santa Clarita is gearing up for a celebration of National Lumpia Day with a lumpia-eating contest on Saturday, March 15, from 3-6:30 p.m.
March 15: Lumpia Eating Contest at Island Pacific Santa Clarita
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board of Trustees will be held Tuesday, March 18 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
March 18: Saugus School Board to Receive Measure EE Annual Report
After a successful pilot program in the Saugus Union School District, School Day Café has expanded the use of a new, eco-friendly serving tray option across all Santa Clarita Valley elementary schools.
SCV Elementary School Lunches Offered on Eco-friendly Serving Trays
In support of “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life,” the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency is developing a Water Use Efficiency Strategic Plan to establish a comprehensive water conservation strategy.
March 26: SCV Water Hosts Public Workshop on Water Use Efficiency Plan
College of the Canyons Women's Tennis got back in the win column with an 8-1 conference road win at Glendale College.
Canyons Gets Back in the Win Column 8-1 at Glendale
The Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children’s Cancer invites the community to join the annual "Walk 4 MHF Help Kids Fight Cancer" to help raise awareness and support local families affected by childhood cancer.
April 5: Annual Walk 4 MHF Help Kids Fight Cancer at Central Park
The Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society has announced that the St. Francis Dam Tour scheduled for Saturday, March 15 has been postponed until Saturday, April 26.
March 15: St. Francis Dam Tour Postponed Due to Rain
SCVNews.com