Search and Rescue

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The Lane County Sheriff's Search and Rescue program (SAR) responds to lost, injured or missing people that are in need of rescue and/or recovery from natural or technological danger within Lane County on a 24-hour basis as mandated by ORS 404.200. View the 2016 SAR Annual Report

This includes but is not limited to the recovery of deceased subjects, aircraft related beacon searches, support of criminal investigations with evidence searches, disaster response, and general logistic support of Sheriff's Office personnel.

Lane County Search and Rescue (SAR) is not currently accepting volunteers for the Ground Search and Rescue team, Eugene Mountain Rescue team, or Lane County Search Dog team. Unfortunately, the current status of COVID-19 in our community has left us with no good options for holding our planned recruiting sessions and the resulting new volunteer training academy at this time. If you are interested in being contacted once we open up recruitment, please contact us by email.

Please contact us by email if you are interested in joining one of our other teams. Team details are included below.

Contact: Tim Chase by email.

Ground Search and Rescue

Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) is a non-profit (501c3) volunteer organization. The GSAR program consists of volunteers over the age of 18 who want to participate in basic searches. Basic searches include missions in moderate terrain. Members, who must maintain a reasonable level of physical fitness, are trained to basic state search and rescue standards and meet and train one to two days per month. Initial training is 100-plus hours, and then a minimum of 30 volunteer hours each year to meet state requirements. Volunteers may be called out on missions day or night, participate in public education and service events, and work approximately 75 volunteer hours per year.

Explorer Post 178

Explorer post 178 consists of young men and women between 14 and 20 years of age. This group is involved in searches within Lane County. They can be called upon at any time, day or night, to search for a missing person or as support personnel in base camp operations. Ground Camp

They may also provide assistance to other, more technical search teams, such as the Water Search and Rescue Unit and Eugene Mountain Rescue.

Regular meetings and outings occur throughout the year to provide essential training in preparation to search involvement. Applicants selected for this program must be in good physical health, obtain most of their own equipment, and maintain a "C" or greater in each class in school.

Eugene Mountain Rescue

Eugene Mountain Rescue (EMR) is a non-profit volunteer organization. EMR’s primary purposes is high angle rock/cliff rescue and rescue work above the snow line in a mountainous environment. EMR Rescue

EMR also participates in wilderness searches on steep terrain, and assists in recoveries and other types of searches. This group operates in Lane County and other areas of the state, when needed. Applicants should be skilled in rock climbing and mountaineering, and be equipped for all four seasons. Those who may not have climbing or mountaineering skills, but are willing to learn, are also welcome as associate level team members.

For more information visit the Eugene Mountain Rescue website.

Lane County Sheriff's Mounted Posse

Consists of volunteers with a desire to use equestrian skills in a rural or wilderness environment to assist the Sheriff and citizens of Lane County. A sound, manageable, western type horse (14.2 to 16 hands) is required as well as a full range of western tack and transportation for rider and horse. Functional activities of the Posse include ceremonies, drills, public education, search and rescue, and various civic activities. The Sheriff's Posse continues a tradition of community-based law enforcement.

Special Vehicles Group

The off-road support program is a group of volunteers who participate in search and rescue activities that involve working on and off unimproved roads in a rural or forested environment. Volunteers must be certified in First Aid and CPR, have experience in wilderness survival, off-road driving and recovery, and own a off-road equipped vehicle.

The Special Vehicle Group is a 16-person unit that provides off-road vehicles able to support the Sheriff's Office during snow and ice conditions, and skills to travel on primitive "double track" roads. Winches, VHF radio and survival gear add to the capability for use in perimeter containment, road search and other SAR functions.

Lane County Amateur Radio Operators

The Lane County Amateur Radio Operators are comprised of FCC licensed amateur radio operators, who voluntarily provide alternative communications before, during and after major emergencies or disaster. For more information visit the LCSARO website.

Lane County Water Search and Rescue Unit

The Lane County Water Search and Rescue Unit is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the citizens of Lane County. This unit assists the Sheriff’s Office with water related functions, including recoveries, evidence searches, vehicle recoveries, and surface rescues. Divers supply their own SCUBA equipment. The team consists of advanced open water certified divers, swift water rescue technicians, power boat, drift boat, and raft operators, as well as shore support personnel. The picture shows a Dive Team during a recovery mission - training and teamwork during these difficult jobs in black water is a necessity.

Lane County Search Dog Team

The Lane County Search Dog Team is a group of volunteers who provide trained search dog teams as part of the Sheriff's search and rescue program. Team members are available throughout the year for search and rescue within Lane County and are often called upon to assist other agencies throughout the State. Team members provide all their own equipment and supply and train their own canines. A rigorous training program takes approximately two to three years to complete. For more information regarding this group, please go to their website at pacificnorthwestsearchdogs.org.

Other Affiliated Sites

*Willamette Backcounty Ski Patrol
*Willamette Pass Ski Patrol

Objectives

•Provide services per ORS 404.200 (see above).

•Continue to provide appropriate training for volunteers. Includes divers, high angle rescue, ground search, beacon search, water rescue and boat operations, search dogs and handlers, 4-wheel drive, man trackers and search managers.

•Continued public education relating to outdoor, wilderness, and water safety.

•Interface with Forestlands Emergency Services, various police agencies, rural fire departments, Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry to provide improved initial local response in support of search and rescue.

•Continued “team management” of the program. Train volunteers to assist with the decision making process.

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