A five year old Blanco girl wandered away from her house on Tuesday, March 23. The Blanco County Search and Rescue, Blanco Volunteer Fire Department, Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, and Starflight were called in to assist with the search, as well as neighbors who offered the use of about ten ATVs to help facilitate the search.

“Starflight was called in because it has thermal imaging.”, said David Hotz, Blanco Volunteer Fire Department fire chief, which he says can help in locating people, particularly in wooded areas and especially after dark., such as the conditions of the search on Tuesday.

Three hours after the girl disappeared and roughly an hour and a half after searchers were called, the little girl was found in nearby woods. According to accounts by Blanco Police Chief Milton Willmann and David Hotz, the young girl followed a neighbor’s dog into the woods and became disoriented.

The first searchers to locate the girl were David Hotz, BVFD fire chief, Mark McMain, BVFD, and Ty Grenwelge, also with BVFD.

The girl was cold, but after being checked out by EMS was found to have no injuries.