A Florence woman who vanished from her 34th Place home was found safe last weekend after search and rescue teams, a K-9 named Jasper, and local firefighters converged on the area to bring her home. Lisa Thorne was last seen leaving her residence on September 11, and by the following afternoon, a multi-agency search was underway to track her down.
Florence Police Department released a public missing person alert on September 12 identifying Thorne, according to Siuslaw News. As KATU reports, the Lane County Sheriff's Office responded to assist Florence police in locating Thorne, with the broader multi-agency search beginning in the early afternoon and additional sheriff's office resources arriving at about 2:30 p.m.
Sound Sweep Leads K-9 Jasper to a Breakthrough
Once on scene, Lane County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue volunteers combed the area where Thorne was last known to be. K-9 Jasper alerted that someone was nearby, allowing volunteers to conduct what searchers call a sound sweep, a technique in which crews call out or blow whistles at set intervals, then go silent to listen for any response. That method is a recognized attraction search tactic, according to the National Association for Search and Rescue, and it relies on a missing person being conscious enough to respond.
The sound sweep helped volunteers locate Thorne, according to the same KATU account, which credited search and rescue volunteers with ultimately locating her. Dogs like Jasper represent years of specialized preparation: volunteer handlers with Lane County Search and Rescue must provide their own dogs and complete a training program lasting two to three years, per Crux Rescue.
Hospital Care and a Combined Response
Once located, Thorne required additional care, and Western Lane Fire and EMS Authority responded after EMS was requested during the search, per the KATU report. Florence Police Department officers then transported her to a local area hospital for treatment. Western Lane Fire & EMS Authority, which maintains its headquarters at 2625 Highway 101 in Florence, was recognized statewide by the Special Districts Association of Oregon in February for its local Crisis Response program.
The Lane County Sheriff's Office credited the outcome to the combined response of its deputies, search and rescue volunteers, Florence police, and Western Lane Fire and EMS Authority personnel. That kind of teamwork is baked into Oregon law: under Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 404, county sheriffs hold primary statutory authority for coordinating search and rescue operations within their counties, according to the Oregon Legislature, which is why Lane County's team stepped in to help Florence police once the case grew beyond a local search.
A Volunteer Force Stretched Across a Vast County
Lane County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue staff and volunteers assist residents and visitors nearly every week, the sheriff's office noted, a workload made possible by approximately 120 active volunteers who together log an average of 21,000 hours annually, according to Lane County SAR. Those volunteers cover several search-and-rescue specialties across Lane County.
Statewide, search and rescue teams respond to missing or injured-person missions in Oregon. The agency's historical data also provides context about search and rescue in Oregon.
Safety Reminders From the Sheriff's Office
Following Thorne's recovery, the Lane County Sheriff's Office reiterated a list of outdoor safety reminders for residents and visitors alike. Anyone heading outdoors should tell someone where they are going and when they plan to return, check conditions before leaving, and be prepared to stay out overnight if plans change. The sheriff's office also urged people to carry a whistle and flashlight, bring maps for offline navigation, and wear a life jacket while on the water.
For anyone who becomes lost, the guidance is simple: stay put. The Lane County Sheriff's Office also provides information on its search and rescue program and how community members can donate to support the volunteer effort that helped bring Thorne home safely.
