Search and Rescue Unit
If you are concerned about the welfare of a missing person or need to report a missing person, call 911 immediately. Our Search & Rescue team can only be activated through law enforcement dispatch.
Washoe County Search and Rescue is an all‑volunteer, Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) accredited organization operating under the authority of Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam. Every member serves as an Auxiliary Deputy Sheriff, responding to search and rescue missions across Washoe County, approximately 6,608 square miles of northwestern Nevada, from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe in the southwest to the Black Rock Desert in the north, with the Truckee River corridor and Pyramid Lake in between.
WCSAR is one of fewer than 80 fully accredited MRA teams in North America, a distinction held by roughly 3% of the nation’s search and rescue teams. MRA accreditation requires rigorous field evaluations in technical rock rescue, technical snow and ice rescue, and search and tracking, in addition to demonstrated proficiency across non‑mountain disciplines. The team is a member of the MRA’s California Region.
WCSAR responds to approximately 100 missions per year, saving Washoe County taxpayers over half a million dollars annually. The organization receives no tax dollars and charges no fees for its services, relying entirely on donations, grants, and member dues. Members respond in personal vehicles and purchase their own uniforms and equipment. The team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Historically, search and rescue in Washoe County was carried out by three separate volunteer teams, each with its own leadership and specialty focus. These teams have since consolidated into a single unified organization, WCSAR, structured around four operational divisions that preserve and expand upon the specialized capabilities developed over more than 50 years of service. All four divisions (Land, Water, Motor, and Technical) respond to mutual‑aid requests from neighboring jurisdictions across Nevada, California, and Oregon, covering an estimated 109,000 square miles.
Learn more about our Operational Divisions
Water Division Motor Division Technical Division
Interagency Coordination
WCSAR trains regularly with partner agencies, including the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Truckee Meadows Fire, REMSA, and North Lake Tahoe Fire. The organization also assists law‑enforcement agencies in neighboring jurisdictions across Nevada, California, and Oregon.
Search & Rescue agencies, public safety organizations, and emergency management partners seeking technical assistance, mutual aid, specialized resources, or operational support may contact our team directly:
- Sergeant Garrett Bird (775) 527-3030
- Deputy Nicholas Ediss (775) 544-5653
Volunteer Service
WCSAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All members undergo a Sheriff’s Office background check and commit to weekly training sessions as well as weekend exercises. The organization has been nationally recognized for its volunteer training standards and operational readiness. Learn more about Washoe County Search and Rescue here.
Visit WashoeSAR.comCommunity Support
Washoe County Search and Rescue volunteers provide lifesaving services at no cost to those we assist and receive no direct tax funding for our operations. Our team contributes thousands of volunteer hours each year, along with equipment, training, and resources that save local taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Your donations help fund critical equipment, training, vehicles, and mission readiness, ensuring our volunteers are prepared to respond when help is needed most. Please consider supporting our mission with a donation.
DonateCommunity Engagement
Interested in having Search & Rescue participate in a community event, career day, safety fair, presentation, or educational program? Please complete our request form below.
Appearance Request