07/16/2026
**Clarification Regarding Rescue and Recovery Operations in Bankhead National Forest**
A recent press release published in the *Northwest Alabamian* regarding a search and rescue operation that later transitioned into a recovery operation in Bankhead National Forest raised questions about the agencies and resources requested during the incident.
Ashridge Fire & Rescue would like to provide clarification regarding how search, rescue and recovery resources are requested and utilized during these specialized operations.
Ashridge Fire & Rescue joined the Association of Alabama Rescue Squads specifically to strengthen our ability to respond to search, rescue and recovery incidents within Bankhead National Forest and throughout Winston County.
The agencies requested during this operation were not selected to intentionally bypass any Winston County fire department. Most of the personnel and resources requested were members of the Association of Alabama Rescue Squads who regularly train for specialized search, rescue and recovery operations.
When possible, we make every effort to keep neighboring fire departments available to protect their own communities while also remaining available to assist in covering Ashridge’s response area during an extended search and rescue operation. During this incident, Ashridge personnel were committed to the call for more than 15 hours. Leaving other departments in service helps ensure that fires, medical emergencies, motor vehicle accidents and other calls can still be answered both in their communities and within our coverage area while a large number of trained personnel are operating in Bankhead National Forest.
Winston County currently has three operational search and rescue teams:
• Ashridge Fire & Rescue
• Winston Search & Dive
• Haleyville Search Team
Ashridge Fire & Rescue and Winston Search & Dive are both members of the Association of Alabama Rescue Squads.
Ashridge is a fire department, and our primary day-to-day responsibilities include medical calls, fires, motor vehicle accidents and other emergencies within our response area. However, Bankhead National Forest is also within our coverage area. Incidents inside the forest often involve difficult terrain, extended operational periods and the need for specialized equipment, training and coordination.
Winston Search & Dive meets monthly for training. Ashridge Fire & Rescue meets every Thursday night and conducts search and rescue training at least once each month. We also participate in multi-agency training with fire departments, rescue squads and search teams from surrounding counties whenever those opportunities are available.
Search and rescue operations require a large number of trained personnel. These incidents may continue for many hours and can involve steep or difficult terrain, land navigation, patient packaging, rope systems, communications and the transportation of personnel and equipment into remote areas.
We are actively looking for people who are interested in becoming involved in search and rescue.
You do not have to live within the Ashridge or Arley response areas to participate. Civilians, members of Winston County fire departments and anyone interested in serving may contact Ashridge Fire & Rescue, Winston Search & Dive or the Haleyville Search Team.
Members of a county fire department may remain with their current department while also training and responding with a search team. These teams operate countywide when requested, and we would be glad to help anyone interested learn more about the training, expectations and process for getting started.
Search and rescue is a team effort. The more trained personnel we have available, the safer and more effective these operations will be for responders, the individuals we are searching for and the citizens of Winston County.
