Officials in Orange County, California, say they recorded a significant increase in search and rescues throughout the pandemic.  The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) have been working to address the rise in search and rescues during the past year. “We basically work together … to ensure that the citizens and the community here in Orange County gets the appropriate response and really to mitigate any hazards that arise,” OCFA Captain Greg Barta told The Epoch Times regarding OCFA’s relationship with OCSD. “They’re a great resource for us to search for people as an avenue of helping us, but the rescue responsibilities—we kind of rotate who’s doing that.” OCFA’s search and rescues almost always involve a helicopter, while OCSD’s rescue units utilize both helicopters and on-foot rescue personnel. The two agencies utilize separate helicopters to maintain coverage of the county, should multiple requests come in. OCFA reported 217 helicopter rescues in 2019—but in …