Jacksonville, FL — There is a sign of hope in the search for two firefighters who didn’t return from a fishing trip on Friday. An offshore angler fishing bag was found about 50 nautical miles east of St. Augustine on Monday.
Firefighters from Jacksonville and surrounding agencies are expected back out on the water to search for Brian McCluney and Justin Walker. They left Friday from the Port Canaveral area and haven’t been seen since.
Search teams have covered tens of thousands of square miles of ocean since the weekend.
JFRD is looking for volunteers who have boats capable of searching between 30 and 60 miles offshore safely. The United States Coast Guard searched through Monday night, and since the weekend has surveyed more than 46,000 square miles. The fishing vessel has not yet been located.
“These people are searching in areas from Brunswick all of the way down to St. Augustine and from the beach out about 60 miles,” JFRD Interim Chief Keith Powers said.
McCluney works with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department while Walker works at a fire department in Virginia.
“We’re talking about a decorated combat veteran and we’re talking about a firefighting paramedic,” Powers said.
Stephanie McCluney confirmed the tackle bag belonged to her husband. "I wholeheartedly believe this is a bread crumb they through overboard to say 'we are here, come find us”, McCluney said.
A handful of local fishermen and captains are already here at the Mayport boat ramp this morning waiting to learn how they can help in the search today @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/RCQc0JVBEn
— Brittney Donovan (@brittneyANjax) August 20, 2019
Some of the first volunteers are starting to show up at the Mayport boat ramp. Patrick Sawyer is bringing out his surveyor boat. A few other boaters are pulling in with their vessels @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/6QDSP0tjk4
— Brittney Donovan (@brittneyANjax) August 20, 2019
A volunteer searcher found Brian McCluney's tackle bag 50 miles off the shore of St. Augustine yesterday.
— Brittney Donovan (@brittneyANjax) August 20, 2019
That's where JFRD and volunteers plan to focus their search this morning. They covered 5,000 square miles yesterday. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/fd8UE4uejZ
“We’re bringing in as many prayer warriors as we can from the community.” pic.twitter.com/Ho8XR6Su3F
— Amber Krycka (@AmberANjax) August 20, 2019
#UPDATE 12: @USCG crews will be searching through the night for the overdue @PortCanaveral boaters. The search has covered 46,800 sq miles with an est 108 hrs of active searches. Images show today’s updated searches from #PortCanaveral to #Charleston S.C. #HappeningNow pic.twitter.com/ciD5ZrBaQC
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) August 19, 2019
We started early as the sun broke today gridding our the area and giving assignments...we will do it again tomorrow at 7am from Mayport boat ramp. #keepthefaith #prayingforourbrothers pic.twitter.com/7KHGrlwjEw
— MyJFRD (@JFRDJAX) August 19, 2019
UPDATE: JFRD says volunteer search efforts include 36 boats and three aircraft.
— Brittney Donovan (@brittneyANjax) August 19, 2019
More than 130 people are out on the water today searching for Brian McCluney and Justin Walker. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews https://t.co/L4gsNKJNje
#UPDATE 11: @USCG crews currently searching are two 87-ft patrol boats and an HC-130 search plane. Multiple partner agency surface and air assets are also aiding in the search. #HappeningNow pic.twitter.com/cB2PGNF0om
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) August 19, 2019
