Local Police Rescue Lost Hikers and Dogs at Seneca Regional Park

Local police helped rescue two lost hikers and two dogs earlier this month.

Ashley Finch, her sister, and two dogs — Lucille and Bo — were lost at Seneca Regional Park in Great Falls after dark.

With only one low-battery phone, the hikers texted 911 at the direction of local emergency staff.

After receiving the text, officers pinpointed their location and texted them a map to guide them toward a nearby house.

The rescue was complicated because of challenging terrain, limited phone service and limited police radio coverage. Both hikers and the dogs were not injured.

“The hikers were then able to work their way toward our helicopter and officers, using their phone flashlight to signal where they were — despite being blanketed by tree foliage and darkness,” the Fairfax County Police Department wrote on Facebook.

When Finch asked how to thank FCPD for their help, the department decided to arrange a union at the dispatch center “so everyone involved would get a chance to meet under less dire circumstances.”

FCPD did not indicate what day the incident occurred.

Photos via FCPD/Facebook