Fremont Rescue

Mar. 2007 Searches

March  2, 2007             West End Island Park Reservoir

Fremont Rescue was called out to assist snowmobilers stuck in the ice on Island Park Reservoir, near the west end. While en-route the search was called off, as the snowmobilers were able to free themselves and continue on their way.

March 7, 2007        Search #1 -Snake River @ St. Anthony

Fremont Rescue was called to assist in retrieving a dog, stuck on a log, in the middle of a fast-moving river. The dog appeared to have been stranded on the log for a couple of days. Local power plant officials had discovered the dog on their bi-weekly check of the plant and had placed the call to help save the dog.

While in the process of saving the dog, Fremont Rescue was called out for another search of greater urgency. Some members stayed to finish this rescue, while others headed north to Bechlar Meadows.

March 7, 2007    Search #2 -Bechlar Meadows, Yellowstone Nat Park

Ashton Emergency Services called Fremont Rescue to assist them with an injured individual located  inside the Yellowstone National Park borders, near Cave Falls.

A pair of park maintenance workers were shoveling snow from the roof of the Ranger Station at Bechlar, when one man slipped, falling from the roof. The harness the individual was wearing caught him, suspending him from the chimney. However, while his co-worker was trying to assist in freeing him, the suspended man lost consciousness. His co-worker cut him free, and called for assistance.

Portneuf helicopter was also called for medical transport from the park!

March 18, 2007                   Desert -west of St. Anthony

Fremont County Search and Rescue members resumed their search for a Salem man, 40-year-old Nester Lazzari, who had been reported missing shortly after Thanksgiving 2006.  Winter snows finally rescinded and the ground dried up enough, allowing searches to continue with their search.

Early January, a hiker stumbled onto a disabled van on the desert west of St. Anthony.  No one was around the van, but the vehicle was register to Nester Lazzari, missing since late November.  Information obtained from Lazzari’s wife indicated he was not properly dressed or prepared for November/December temperatures.  Search dogs and Fremont County personnel searched the area around the van attempting to pick up a scent or locate the individual before Fremont County Search and Rescue member were notified about the missing individual.

Back on January 6, 2007, over 200 volunteers from Bonneville, Bingham, Madison and Fremont Counties volunteered their time searching for the missing individual.  Weather that day was cold, windy and snowy; never the less, volunteers spent many hours searching a grid pattern around and beyond the area where his vehicle was located.  Volunteers searched on horses, ATV’s, snowmobiles, and many on foot attempting to locate Mr. Lazzari.

Since then, many man hours and rescue dogs have searched the area additional times, turning no clues. As soon as the Mother Nature cooperated, a plan was in place, a full-scale search would again be implemented.

March 11, 2007, Brett Mackert, Search and Rescue Commander, spent 6 hours flying the area with Niel Shupe, owner/operator of Shupe Flying Service.  The area was still partially covered with snow, making the search difficult, but their hope was to locate the individual.  While in the air, search grid assignments were planned for the Sunday, March 18^th search.

Tuesday, March 13th, Fremont County Search and Rescue commander, Brett Mackert, located Lazarri’s sandals, shirt and shorts in close proximity to where his van had previously been found.  Mackert and Fremont County Sheriff Ralph Davis were on the desert looking over the search area.   Search dogs, and Fremont County personnel, again spent many hours searching the area trying to locate Mr. Lazzari and bring closure to the family.

8:00 a.m. Sunday, March 18, Fremont County Search and Rescue members and friends again gathered to again search the area.  Horses, ATV, cycles and Shupe Flying Service, with his helicopter, combed the area, concentrating southwest toward the southwest buttes and west toward the North Juniper.  After speaking with his family, rescue personnel assumed Lazzari might have been heading toward higher ground, toward the buttes or junipers.  Rescue members searched under all foliage, flagging all and any trees, bushes, etc indicating the area had been covered. Around 10:30 a.m. his body was found positioned between sagebrush near the top of a butte.  It is estimated Mr. Lazzari had walked approximately 1-½ miles.  Cold temperatures were the factors in his death.

Fremont County Search and Rescue would like to thank all organizations and individuals who volunteered their time to this tragic situation.  Special thanks to Shupe Flying Service volunteering his time and helicopter.