At Washoe County Search and Rescue (WCSAR), our mission is simple but critical: to locate, rescue, and recover missing or injured individuals throughout Washoe County and surrounding wilderness areas. Operating 24/7/365 under all weather conditions, our all-volunteer force bridges the gap between civilization and the rugged Nevada backcountry to bring loved ones home safely.

Our team is comprised of dedicated community members—your neighbors, co-workers, and friends—who undergo rigorous training to operate in high-stress, technical environments. We operate as a unified force with specialized divisions:

• Ground Division: Experts in wilderness navigation, land search tactics, and visual tracking. They form the backbone of our searches, covering vast terrain on foot in all conditions and all times of year.

• Technical Division: High-angle and alpine rescue specialists. They utilize advanced rope and rigging systems to execute high-consequence rescues in the most unforgiving environments.

• Water Division: Our aquatic response team, certified in swiftwater rescue, dive operations, and marine search across lakes, rivers, and flooded areas.

• Motorized Division: Built for speed and reach. Using watercraft, UTVs, and snowmobiles, they navigate rugged trails to transport gear, rescuers, and patients quickly.

Our impact is measured in lives saved, families reunited, and a community made safer. Every year, our volunteers donate thousands of hours to ensure that when an emergency happens, help is on the way.

• Last 12 Months: Successfully responded to 226 missions, ranging from stranded hikers on Mt. Rose to missing children in urban areas.

• Volunteer Hours: Over 2,469 hours dedicated to active missions, community safety education, and rigorous field training.

• Area Covered: Safeguarding over 6,500 square miles of Washoe County’s rugged deserts, steep canyons, and alpine forests.