Authorities have seen a big increase in search and rescue missions in northern Arizona, driven by a surge in popularity of outdoor recreation areas. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) The Associated PressFLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities have seen a big increase in search and rescue missions in northern Arizona, driven by a surge in popularity of outdoor recreation areas. County search and rescue teams have conducted 63 search and rescue missions since the start of 2017 versus 90 missions for all of 2016. On a busy tourist weekend for Coconino County, technical rescue teams could be forced to respond to multiple search and rescue missions on opposite sides of the 18,661-square-mile (48,332-square-kilometer) county. "It has been a busy year overall, and volunteers commit to a lot doing search and rescue," said Lisa Callan, a search and rescue volunteer who has been on 18 missions in 2017.

Source: Daily Sun June 24, 2017 16:28 UTC