A memorial service will be held for Mike Herdman, Wednesday, July 9 at 11 a.m. at the Arcadia High School Performing Arts Center, 188 Campus Dr., in Arcadia.
The body of Herdman, a firefighter and paramedic with the Arcadia fire department, was found in the Los Padres National Forest Friday, June 27, almost two weeks after he was reported missing by fellow firefighter and paramedic, Taylor Byars, authorities said.
Herdman, a father and husband, graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 1996 and his family still resides in town, though he had been with the Arcadia fire department since 2007.
In order to assist Herdman’s family in meeting any financial needs, the Arcadia Firefighters Association and the Fire Family Foundation have started a fund, which can be found at arcadiafirefighters.org.
Herdman died after falling from a cliff, the Ventura County medical examiner’s office told the Los Angeles Times. His body was found less than a mile from where he was last seen. After being spotted by a helicopter in the very rough terrain of the forest, Herdman’s identity was confirmed by the medical examiner’s office through dental records.
Herdman went missing on Friday, June 13, after chasing his dog that had run from his campsite in the Sespe Wilderness area north of Fillmore in Ventura County. Herdman’s dog, Duke, was eventually caught by rescuers. Herdman was barefoot, wearing only a t-shirt and shorts at the time and had no food or water with him. Herdman’s hiking partner, fellow Arcadia firefighter and paramedic, Taylor Byars, followed after him, but headed back to the camp at dark. After Herdman failed to return, Byars hiked for a day and a half out of the forest to look for help.
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