TOWNSHIP E — While kayakers prepared to take part in the thrilling Smalls to the Wall Steep Creek Race on Saturday, April 19, a group of volunteers safely anchored themselves into position on the high cliffs of Smalls Falls gorge. The Franklin Search and Rescue volunteers were there to offer support to the racers and crew of the annual event.

“We set up systems to raise and lower the swiftwater rescue ‘swimmers’ who are responsible for helping a kayaker that flips or needs help in the water,” said Melissa Shea, team leader of FSAR’s High Angle Ropes Team.

Shea, a real estate agent with Morton and Furbish Real Estate in Rangeley, owns property in Sandy River Plantation where she has an active Conservation Management Plan with the U.S Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to implement improvements to wildlife habitat and sustainable forest management.

She has lead the specialized ropes team, consisting of eight to 10 active members, since 2015.

“I teach the members at our monthly trainings and I also organize eight to 10 field trainings each year at different locales with cliffs or features that present difficulty with rope scenarios,” she said.

Shea likes to schedule trainings at locations that have had incidents in the past, such as Smalls Fall, Pico Ledges in Industry, and Tumbledown in Weld.

“We responded to a serious accident at Smalls Falls several years back when an oxygen van missed the turn and ‘flew’ into the river,” she said. “We also respond to a lot of Tumbledown incidents as well as Appalachian Trail searches such as the search for Gerry Largay. We offered specialized ropes protection to Maine Search and Rescue Dogs who were searching dangerous cliff areas in NAVY SERE property while searching for Gerry.”

Smalls Falls is an ideal training location, she noted.

“It offers steep overhanging cliffs and limited sturdy trees to anchor from, as well as dangerous ledges for the team to operate their rope systems. Safety is my number one concern as I am responsible for the training’s participants and ensuring the systems are run professionally and to the industry standard,” she said.

Other training locations include Baxter State Park, Mosher Falls in Industry, and Daggett Rock in Phillips for rock climbing and rock protection placement and practice. She includes training at locations along snowmobile trails where a steep section and a sharp turn collide.

FSAR one of 14 all volunteer teams with Maine Association of Search and Rescue.

“We cover Franklin County and can be called out to all areas of the state at a moment’s notice,” she explained.

Of the 14 statewide teams, only five have rope rescue specialists. Every two years, Maine’s rope rescue teams train together at Acadia National Park to coordinate training techniques and inter-agency cooperation. The training is taught by Rigging for Rescue of Ouray, CO.

“The instructors always marvel that Maine’s teams work seamlessly together without conflict and that other states do not cooperate well within regions never mind the entire state,” Shea said. “This intensive four day training in Acadia challenges us to grow in our roles and learn from each other in active scenarios.”

Franklin County Emergency Management Agency supports the ropes team with grants and insurance coverage of FSAR members during trainings.

Shea noted that FSAR will be hosting the annual MASAR conference at the Kieve Campus in Nobleboro May 16 -18.

“Each team takes turns hosting the event and organizing the speakers, venue, and programs,” she said.

FSAR regular training sessions are held the second Wednesday of each month at the Kingfield Fire Department, 18 Commercial Street, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Those interested in joining FSAR can email Shea at [email protected] or visit the Franklin Search & Rescue Facebook page.

“I feel strongly that volunteering is essential for communities and I am fortunate the Morton and Furbish Real Estate also believes in community involvement,” Shea said. “Realtors support giving back to their communities.”