Search and rescue drill held in Leominster

LEOMINSTER — A search and rescue drill recently brought together a large group of people to find two “lost” hikers.

Several Leominster Emergency Management Office volunteers and many Leominster Trail Stewards were joined on June 6 by members of the Civil Air Patrol — the official civilian auxiliary of the Air Force — who were both on the ground and flying in the area.

The drill participants searched in two different locations in the South Monoosnoc trail area on the back side of Sholan Farms. The goal of the drill was to test the communication process and the interaction between all three organizations to locate William Kirousis and Ginger Venti, who volunteered to be the hikers who get lost.

Everyone met at the Emergency Management Office headquarters at 37 Carter St. bright and early that Saturday morning for an operation briefing and by 10 a.m. members from the three entities who were assigned to the command center remained there. The volunteers assigned to the search left for Sholan Farms and Kirousis and Venti William were dropped off at their designated locations to wait to be rescued wearing orange vests so they could be seen from the air.

The Emergency Management Office team leads coordinated and assigned the search and rescue teams from there and a food truck was arranged to feed the volunteers. Participants were encouraged to dress in layers, bring fluids to stay hydrated along with snacks and charged cell phones and hiking poles.

Leominster Trail Stewards Board Chair Neal Wynne, who was the drill observer, said it was “a wonderful opportunity” to work together — a first time for all three organizations — and he shared that there is a large search and rescue drill scheduled for October.

Husband and wife city residents Graeme and Carrie Noseworthy were two of the searchers who helped find the “lost” hikers.

“Maintaining the quality and safety of our trails is an important job for the Leominster Trail Stewards,” said Graeme, who is part of Leominster Trail Stewards. “Volunteering to participate in a search and rescue drill helps us ensure that we know what to do and how to support first responders in the city during situations like a lost or injured hiker.”

He said they all “learned a lot in the process” thanks to Leominster Emergency Management Director Arthur Elbthal and the Emergency Management Office team.