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 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


| Thursday, Jun 19, 2014
Loading...
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 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 Dorene Tapp says:

    Praying that he will be found soon.

  7. Denice Olsen 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
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16: Public Works Virtual Community Meeting for Updating Bicycle Master Plan
College of the Canyons got back on track during its return to conference play carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
SCVNews.com