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R.E.A.R.S. |
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During the summer of 2003 Southern California fell siege to wildland fires. The Mountain Fire in southwest Riverside County was the defining incident which brought to the forefront the need for a formal and organized animal rescue program in Riverside County. There were many lessons learned - it was realized that government agencies don't have enough staff to handle a massive animal evacuation; the services of many volunteers were not able to be utilized because they had no formal training and there was no organizational structure; and animal rescue groups must be part of the emergency plan so they don't impede fire engines and emergency vehicles in the course of their work. Following the aftermath of the Mountain Fire, an ad-hoc committee was formed with representatives from Riverside Counties Sheriff’s Department, Riverside County Department of Animal Services, Riverside County Fire Department (OES) and the California Highway Patrol.
The committee realized
the need for an initial training program and continuing training in
order to provide for the safety of the volunteers. Initially a basic
class was developed consisting of an overview on the areas of
Incident Command System, Law Enforcement Issues, Animal Evacuation
Procedures, Fire Line Safety and Animal Handling. After completing
the Basic Class, volunteers were issued a R.E.A.R.S. identification
card. Later in the year continuing training included Flood Training,
Trailer Inspection and Maneuvering. To date more than 300 volunteers
have completed the Basic Class! |
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