MDI Search & Rescue

If you see Chance, please contact the Orono Police Department. 207-866-4000 or Maine State Police Dispatch at 207-973-3700

***Update***
We are sad to to report that Chance Lauer was recently found deceased. We have removed his photo and personal information for privacy and out of respect for his loved ones. Maine Warden Service thanks you for your concern, patience, and assistance throughout the search.
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***Maine Warden Service, MASAR Volunteers Search For Missing Man in Orono***

ORONO, Maine – The Maine Warden Service, along with trained searchers from the Maine Association of Search and Rescue (MASAR), are searching for missing man in Orono.

Chance Lauer was last seen on Monday, January 19th at the Orchard Trail Apartments in Orono where he lives.

Game Wardens plan to begin ground searches in the Orono area at 8:00 a.m. with members of the Maine Warden Service, MASAR and ten total K9 units from the Maine Warden Service and Maine Search and Rescue Dogs (MESARD)

Due to the extreme weather conditions expected tomorrow, the Maine Warden Service is not asking for any volunteers at this time.

If any new information becomes available, this release will be updated.

We haven't been posting many pictures recently so here are a few from trainings over the past few months and a few from our training yesterday on edge transitions during a raise with the litter in a horizontal orientation without an artificial high directional.

Photos posted on the MDI SAR FaceBook page or website cannot be reused without prior approval.

We were called out by Acadia National Park on New Year's Eve to assist with a carry out of an injured hiker off Gorham Mountain. We were fortunate to have mild temperatures and only a few small patches of ice on the trail. We wish the patient a speedy recovery and wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year!

A reporter from News Center Maine came to our training on Sunday and put together this great story (see link for video and article)! During the training, we were partnering with Acadia rangers and Mount Desert Fire Department to practice using their ladder truck as a high directional to rescue a patient.

MDI Search and Rescue prepares year-round for emergencies at Acadia National Park The volunteer organization responds to dozens of emergencies every year in and around Acadia National Park.

58-year-old male experienced a serious medical event on the Beehive Trail and was airlifted by Maine Forest Service helicopter to the Bar Harbor Fire Department ambulance for transport to the Mount Desert Island Hospital on Sept 18. Park rangers were also assisted by MDI Search and Rescue.

More at go.nps.gov/AcadiaNews

Our training today focused on how to be a litter attendant. We did many iterations and rotated through different roles: Litter Attendant, Safety Officer, Edge Attendant, Main and Belay rope operators, and Operations Officer.

Despite the rain today we trained on transitioning from a steep angle rescue with three litter attendants to a vertical orientation with a single attendant and then back to a steep angle. We trained at a site off the the Park Loop Road so used a vehicle for our anchor.

MDI SAR assisted Acadia National Park with a carryout off the Beehive trail on Sunday, July 28. Bar Harbor Fire and Friends of Acadia summit stewards also assisted.

On Sunday, July 28 we trained on basic vertical rescue skills using two high angle rescue systems. One system was set up using the Vortex as an artificial high directional with CMC clutches for the lower and raise. The second system used no artificial high directional and used ATCs for the lower and raise. We did multiple reps on each system to give everyone a chance to work the ropes, be at the edge, be in charge of command and control, or go over the edge. Thanks to Maine Coast Heritage Trust for letting us train at one of their preserve sites.

Had a great time participating in the 2024 Bar Harbor 4th of July parade. Team members walked the parade route with Acadia's Evac Kart and our litter with litter wheel attached. New this year were gin poles rigged on both sides of the float so that two people could dangle in their harnesses. The weather was perfect for the parade, overcast and cool!

On Tuesday June 25 there were two simultaneous incidents in Acadia that required litter evacuation of injured hikers. It was an "all hands" kind of afternoon with assistance from Acadia National Park rangers, MDI SAR, Bar Harbor Fire Department, FOA Trail stewards, and ANP trail and fire crews.