Helicopter Dispute Continues For OCSD, OCFA

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA —The ongoing search-and-rescue feud between the Orange County Sheriff's Department and the Orange County Fire Authority over which agency should take the lead in search and rescue operations came to a head Tuesday when Sheriff Sandra Hutchens ended an agreement between the two agencies. A bit of progress has been made toward a workable agreement, according to OCFA though much more work needs to be done.

The feud has been brewing since last year as the two agencies have responded to emergencies with helicopters. It became so heated that Hutchens and then-Fire Chief Jeff Bowman told Orange County supervisors in August that despite 40 meetings on the issue they couldn't reach an agreement on how to coordinate search-and-rescue efforts and needed a mediator.

The supervisors, in turn, told Hutchens and Bowman to keep negotiating and then voted to adopt a search-and-rescue protocol for the sheriff's department. The fire authority is a separate agency not answerable to the county board.

The memorandum of understanding between the two agencies was set to expire in August, but Hutchens extended it multiple times as officials continued negotiations. Hutchens said Tuesday she would not extend the deadline again.

"It is in the public's best interest that the sheriff's department serve as primary provider for remote-area search and rescue missions," Hutchens said. "Air rescues in remote and wildland areas represent one facet in a comprehensive search and rescue program that has been serving county residents for more than 70 years."

Hutchens said she remained "committed to working collaboratively with the Orange County Fire Authority."

The OCFA issued a statement saying mediation between the two agencies, which was non-binding, began Dec. 12 and continued through Jan. 3, "with some progress made."

The OCFA said Hutchens' decision was "unfortunate," but that the firefighters will "continue to pursue a successor agreement that recognizes our jurisdictional authority as the primary emergency medical service system provide for the OCFA's service areas."

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