Fires Hampering Search For Orangevale Hiker Missing in Sierra National Forest

Search and Rescue teams from the Bay Area are in the Sierra National Forest in Fresno County looking for a missing Orangevale woman who disappeared last week while hiking with a Sierra Club group.

The search for 62-year-old Miyuki Harwood is hampered by the nearby 60,238-acre Rough Fire, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Botti said. Smoke delayed an air search this morning, but Chinook and Blackhawk helicopter crews were hoping for some clearing this afternoon, Botti said.

Search and Rescue teams from Marin, San Mateo, Monterey and Contra Costa counties are looking for Harwood, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Harwood’s friends and family said Miyuki is an experienced hiker.

She left for the trip Aug. 18 and did not know the other members in the Sierra Club hiking group. She was last seen Aug. 20 near Horsehead Lake 100 miles northeast of Fresno, and the sheriff’s office was notified she was missing 5 a.m. Aug. 21.

There were three-dozen searchers earlier this week, the sheriff’s office said.

Marin County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Doug Pittman said the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office requested Type I search and rescue personnel through the California Office of Emergency Services.

“They reached out to us Tuesday and we sent our 12 Type I personnel,” Pittman said.

Type I searchers and rescuers are able to survive up to 72 hours in steep rugged terrain and high altitude in remote areas, Pittman said.

The area where they will be searching for Miyuki is too rugged for search dogs, Pittman said. More search and rescue personnel were sent Thursday night and more may leave Saturday morning, Pittman said.

Almost all of the members of Marin County’s Search and Rescue team are volunteers, Pittman said. The Rough Fire started after lightning strikes on July 31. It was 25 percent contained today.

--Bay City News

Photo via U.S. Forest Service - Sequoia National Forest on Facebook