Monrovia’s USAR Heads North to Help Search for Missing Fire Victims

Monrovia FD had just returned from helping in the Woolsey Fire when USAR was sent to help in the Camp Fire. – Courtesy photo

By Susan Motander

The Office of Emergency Services assigned to Monrovia came home on Thursday, Nov. 15 with its crew of Captain Shawn Morton, Engineer Chris Mellinger, Firefighter/Paramedic Max Parker, and Firefighter Ryan Mitchell all safe and as healthy as one can be after working more than a week with 24-hour days at a fire scene. The next day Battalion Chief Jeremy Sanchez, Captain Nick Board with Engineer Rudy Libra, and Firefighters Angel Arroyo and Jeremy Montoya on Monrovia Engine 101 also came home in the same condition: tired and glad to be home.

Unfortunately, Monrovia’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Engine 701 is needed at the Camp Fire. Normally a campfire evokes thoughts of toasting marshmallows and consuming s’mores but the Camp Fire consumed an entire community: Paradise, Calif. With nearly 1,000 people missing in the area, the USAR vehicle is going to help in the search for those individuals.

Captain B J Scott, Engineer Jake Clemens, and Firefighter/Paramedic John Claypool are on their way north with the USAR engine to assist at that scene.