Liberty – A large-scale, all-day search for a missing teenager was successful Monday after the boy wandered off from his home.
The teen, who was not identified, was found in good shape, according to the Hiwassee Dam Volunteer Fire Department.
The 15-year-old left his home near Camp Creek just south of Apalachia Dam on Monday morning, and did not return. A search and rescue situation was declared and volunteers mustered at the Hiwassee Dam Fire Department just after 2 p.m.
Cherokee County Emergency Management, sheriff’s office deputies, volunteer search and rescue personnel, and local volunteer firefighters converged to an incident command post set up at the intersection of Cross Creek Lane and Owassa Road, two private roads in a remote section of far-western Cherokee County.
At least five teams of volunteers searched the woods, trails, hunter cabins and lake shore for hours without success. The teen was wearing a camouflage jacket, further complicating the search.
As the day wore on and sunset approached, additional help was summoned.
Cherokee County Emergency Management sent out a notification about the missing teenager at 8:22 p.m. and help was summoned from a much larger region.
“Over a year ago, Hiwassee Dam FD joined the Tri-State Mutual Aid Association which is based around the Chattanooga metro area,” Hiwassee Dam Fire Department said. “Tonight is the first time we have called on them.”
Through the mutual aid agreement, they dispatched Hamilton County Emergency Management in Chattanooga, Tenn., and West Polk, Tenn., with their drones. Once there, Hamilton County Emergency Management deployed two drones, along with West Polk’s single drone.
The three drones flew a grid search pattern for two hours before the Hamilton County drones picked up a heat signature.
The signature appeared to be a body lying in the fetal position. The drone operator marked the GPS coordinates and led ground searchers to the missing teenager.
The teen was carried out of the woods and turned over to Cherokee County EMS medics for evaluation, according to the Hiwassee Dam Fire Department.
“Training and great relationships with mutual aid partners led to a successful mission,” Hiwassee Dam Fire Department said.
“Words cannot express how we feel right now,” Hiwassee Dam Fire Department announced. “After a long ground search, the young man was found in good shape. Thanks to our members, Wolf Creek FD, Culberson FD, Copper Basin Fire and Rescue, West Polk Fire and Rescue with their drone, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department, Cherokee County Emergency Management, Cherokee County 911.”