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Broadwater County Search and Rescue Team Receive Training on Evacuation Procedures
Author: Matt Nelson

On Thursday, April 2, members of Broadwater County Search and Rescue gathered for an evacuation training procedure. Jamie Buck, the newly appointed Broadwater County Undersheriff, spoke about evacuation procedures to the members. Nineteen people were present at the meeting, including other members of the Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office.

Undersheriff Buck’s excellent presentation centered on a recent fire on Eustis Road in Three Forks and the necessary evacuation of the residents. While BWCSAR members were not participants of that particular evacuation, the purpose of this presentation was to let them know what to do and what to expect. During the evacuation, Broadwater County Deputies went to each home and told the people living there that they needed to evacuate. Many people chose to do so and quickly gathered their essentials and left. Before evacuating the individuals were required to sign a form that contained their contact information and their evacuation location.

Some individuals refused the evacuation order and they had to sign a form saying that’s what they were doing. These individuals were warned that they were responsible for themselves, and they might not be rescued if the fire got too close. The deputies also told the people which roads they should travel on during the evacuation. BWCSAR completed this exercise in the event they are called to assist the Sheriff’s Office with this sort of evacuation for a natural emergency.

The BWCSAR falls under the leadership of the Sheriff’s office. As the name implies, they perform searches and rescues in the mountains, out on Canyon Ferry Lake and the Missouri River, etc. They are given extensive training in First Aid and radio communications and follow careful coordination with each other and other first responders, including the fire department.

Broadwater County Search and Rescue is always looking for volunteers. If interested in joining, contact the sheriff’s office at 406-266-3141

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PhotoCredit: Matt Nelson
Image 1 Caption: Broadwater County Undersheriff Jamie Buck. Photo Credit: Matt Nelson
Image 2 Caption: Members of the BSCSAR team attending the training. Photo Credit: Matt Nelson