Indianapolis, In. — An Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) search and rescue K9 team deployed to California Sunday to assist ongoing search efforts for missing and unaccounted victims of California wild fires, the agency announced.
Lillian Hardy and K9 Eris deployed to Butte County on Sunday, Nov. 25, and will return on Dec. 10. Hardy and Eris will assist local and state officials in human remains detection in areas devastated by the Camp Fire. The Camp Fire began Nov. 8, and has claimed at least 85 lives and left nearly 300 missing.
Hardy leads the IDHS search and rescue training program and also assists Indiana public safety agencies in search and rescue operations, when requested. Hardy and Eris are certified through the National Search Dog Alliance for land and water human remains detection, the National Association for Search and Rescue for disaster human remains detection, as well as IDHS for cadaver land and water search.
The K9 search and rescue program provides training to search and rescue teams from across the country. The program consists of structured classes of varying levels and disciplines from basic foundation training to advanced skills.
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