Ventura County Sheriff’s Department announced last Friday that Arcadia Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedic Michael Herdman’s body was found and recovered at approximately 10:00 a.m. on June 27, 2014 in rugged terrain approximately 1200 feet above the Sespe River outside of Fillmore. On Friday, June 13, 2014, Arcadia Firefighter/Paramedics, Mike Herdman and Taylor Byars, became separated while on a weekend camping trip in the Sespe Wilderness Area. Mr. Byars looked for Mr. Herdman and made his way out of the wilderness area and notified authorities on the evening of Sunday, June 15, 2014. 
Beginning on Monday June 16, 2014, the Ventura County Sheriff and Fire Department, along with hundreds of volunteer Search and Rescue personnel searched for Mike Herdman concluding with the recovery of his body last Friday morning. Beth Stogner Arcadia Fire spokesperson said: “Our hearts are broken, individually and collectively, by the news of Mike’s death. We are forever indebted to the Ventura County Sheriff’s and Fire Departments for their galant and exhaustive efforts to find our brother and friend and bring him home. 
We extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathy to Mike’s family and stand ready to assist them in the difficult days, weeks, and months ahead. We also want to express our sincere thanks to our community and the many others who shared an outpouring of love and support. Mike Herdman, 36 years old, was a 7-year veteran of the Arcadia Fire Department.