A Father and Two Boys’ Search for a Christmas Tree Ends With Help From Missoula Search and Rescue

A family’s search for a Christmas tree turned into a dangerous ordeal when their car broke down in the back country outside of Clinton on Sunday night. Missoula County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Brenda Bassett says deputies were called to help find a father and his two boys.

"The man and his two children, a five-year-old and an eight-year-old went out to look for a Christmas tree around 2:30 p.m.," Bassett said. "He expected to take about two hours, but when his family didn't hear from him, they ended up contacting our dispatch center. We had several deputies out looking for them, a couple of snowmobiles, around 9:30 we ended up calling out around 13 members of our Search and Rescue team here in Missoula, Two Bear Air was also called to assist."

A citizen found the family and reported their location to deputies who brought the man and children to safety. According to Bassett, the father was well-prepared for a worst case scenario.

"The family ended up being located about 1.2 miles up in the Schwartz Creek area, the dad had built a fire, because he couldn't get his car out. He was in a bit of a predicament, especially because he had his children with him, but he built a fire, he was prepared so it ended up ending really well."

Bassett says that changing weather and the fact that the family didn’t know exactly where the father and kids were going to look for the Christmas tree made the search difficult. Some roads that night were posted with an emergency travel only warning.