‘The distance didn’t matter’: Middleton Fire Battalion Chief aided in search for Jayme Closs

MIDDLETON, Wis. — When law enforcement asked for 2,000 volunteers to help aid in the search for Jayme Closs, Middleton Fire Battalion Chief Brad Subera stepped up to the plate.

“As a father of a 13-year-old, it strikes home that it can happen to anybody at any time,” he said.

He made the trek, traveling over 200 miles.

“The distance didn’t matter,” he said. “The feeling goes through your mind that this could indeed be my family.”

Although they didn’t find much in his search group, Subera said, “I had the feeling that we helped.”

He said by covering ground and not finding anything, they allowed law enforcement and other search groups to check another spot off their list of areas to search. Subera said helping the family was where he felt the most emotional.

“They’re going to see the news clips and go, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s a lot of love.’ On a Tuesday morning in October, middle of the day. Two thousand people are willing to come, drop what they’re doing and give that search. It’s amazing to see that amount of cars that were coming down the road, turning into the staging area. It was awe-inspiring.”

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