Missing firefighter graduated from Laguna Beach High School

Rescuers spotted the dog belonging to missing Arcadia firefighter and Laguna Beach High School graduate Michael Herdman on Wednesday, but have not located the 36-year-old man, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Eric Buschow said.

Searchers found footprints and a backpack that they suspect belong to Herdman, a Dana Point resident who left with a friend on June 11 for a four-day backpacking trip in the Los Padres National Forest, Buschow said.

Herdman was last seen Friday, when he ran barefoot after his German short-hair mix along a creek bed in the Sespe Wilderness area.

Herdman’s friend notified authorities of the disappearance at 9 p.m. Sunday, and the search began Monday morning, Buschow said.

Multiple agencies, including Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles and Orange County sheriff’s departments, are scouring what Buschow calls a “steep, rugged and treacherous” area looking for Herdman, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts when he disappeared.

“They’re doing a lot of rock hopping and are looking behind every bush,” Buschow said.

Several search dogs are also involved in the effort.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce