Seneca Resources, an oil company who conducts operations in the Sespe mountains north of the city of Fillmore, is generously donating $7,000 to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Search and Rescue Team (SAR). Seneca, whose employees live and work in the area, have recognized the benefits the SAR volunteers bring to the community and have graciously donated the funds to support these efforts.

It’s this type of private company and government partnerships that ensure when an emergency occurs, proper equipment and people will be able to respond with the training and expertise to handle the incident.

The Fillmore Search and Rescue Team is comprised of 30 volunteers, who respond to lost or overdue hikers and hunters in the back country at a moments notice, often times during inclement weather and at night when these types of calls have a tendency to happen.

The team is also trained in Urban Search and Rescue so that in the event of a catastrophic event such as flooding, fires or earthquakes, they can respond and supplement the Fire Department’s personnel and Sheriff Deputies.

Each year the Fillmore SAR team donates thousands of hours of their time in training and actual searches for missing persons in the backcountry, and during mutual aid requests to other counties throughout the state.

Seneca’s donation will greatly assist in the purchasing of an off-road capable vehicle that will enable the SAR members to search more effectively and transport critical rescue gear and personnel to remote rescue sites.

The Fillmore Search and Rescue Team and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office are extremely grateful to the Seneca Corporation and its employees for this donation.