The Sharp Mountain search for 29-year-old Jesse Farber of Tamaqua kicked into high gear shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday, marking three days in a row that teams from throughout the region have joined forces to find the missing father of of two.

New to the effort is manpower and equipment from Pennsylvania Wilderness Search and Rescue. The group, called PaWSAR, is based in Zelienople in the Pittsburgh area, and was founded in 2009 with the goal of returning missing loved ones to their families.

Gearing up for Saturday's operation were additional ATVs along with multiple K-9 units.

Coordinating the response is Northeast Search and Rescue. Chief Christopher Rudolph of that group said all units will compare information from previous days and develop a strategy.

"We have to determine what we saw. We'll get together with the Tamaqua Police Department, fire department and others."

One searcher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to speak with the media, said the existence of open mine shafts is a concern.

In fact, on Friday, a response team from the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection reportedly lowered a camera into one of the mine voids.

The search already has involved local police, Tamaqua Fire Department volunteers, a Pennsylania State Police helicopter, a military helicopter from the Pennsylvania National Guard and various specialized search and rescue units from throughout the region.

Farber was last seen Tuesday afternoon. Later that evening, he made a cell phone call to his girlfriend in which he expressed distress and said he was in need of help. The call is believed to have originated from Sharp Mountain, also called South Mountain, behind Tamaqua Area High School.

Farber stands 5 feet, 6 inches and weighs 130 pounds. He is described as wearing a black hoodie and carrying a camoflage backpack.

More information as it becomes available.