COLUMBUS, Ohio — The three members of Ohio Task Force 1 and their K-9 partners who landed in Maui, Hawaii following the devastating wildfires returned home Sunday.
Last week, the team deployed three handlers and three dogs, all trained and certified to detect and alert for dead bodies.
The OHTF1 members and their K-9s are:
Heather Fergusson and Melvin from Marengo, Ohio
Nick Fathergill and Sunny, from Beavercreek, Ohio
Kim Veldheer and Major, from Rive's Junction, Michigan
They began their work on Aug. 17 and assisted alongside teams from Washington, Nevada and California.
Their deployment to Maui came after wildfires tore through the island last week, leaving more than 100 people dead.
The teams took an overnight, cross-country flight on Saturday evening and arrived at the headquarters at 8:30 a.m.
Ohio Task Force 1 is one of the nation's 28 Urban Search & Rescue teams and is based in Dayton.