Search and Rescue is responsible for all SAR activities within Douglas County, as defined by Oregon Revised Statues 401.

Search and Rescue is defined by law as: "Acts of searching for, rescuing or recovering, by means of ground or marine activity, any person who is lost, injured or killed while out-of-doors."

Douglas County and the Oregon Sheriffs Association are part of the HikeSafe coalition. HikeSafe’s goal is to promote hiker safety and awareness. Please check out the HikeSafe Website for information that relates to almost all outdoor recreation.

Read the Outdoor Travel Tips and Outdoor Travel Essentials to help plan a safe wilderness trip, then complete the Trip Plan Form (Parts 1 and 2), and leave them with a trusted friend. (Provided by Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada).    www.sarvac.ca

Douglas County Search and Rescue Units

Below are the SAR units who provide services in our community. Membership is restricted to approved applicants. All SAR unit membership is open to both male and female. No applicant will be denied membership meeting unit criteria, on the basis of race, creed, color, religion or sex. Application is basically the same for all units; you will need to fill out an application and either turn it into the unit you are interested in joining or the Sheriff's Office. All applicants will have a background, criminal history, and driving record check. Applications and information can be obtained from any SAR unit or from the Sheriff's Office.

• Douglas County Mounted Search and Rescue
  Equestrian unit open to all persons 21 years or older.  Must have access or means to transport horse(s).
• Douglas County 4x4 Search & Rescue
  The purpose of the 4x4 SAR team is to provide a team that is capable of responding in almost any weather or terrain. The 4x4 SAR team will provide a "containment" search capability, which means the team will be deployed on roads around the area were a subject is reported missing. The team will also function as a transportation unit, providing equipment operators and vehicles to operate specialty vehicles such as snow cats and to transport searchers.
• Douglas County Air Support Unit
  The Air Support Unit was developed to provide assistance to Search and Rescue operations, disaster relief (damage surveys) and suspect locating and tracking.  This specialized unit is made up of highly qualified private pilots who are willing to donate their time and aircraft in support of the Sheriff's Office and citizens of Douglas County.
• Douglas County Amateur Radio Emergency Services
  DCARES is a group of amateur radio operators willing to assist SAR, emergency management and other agencies during emergencies or community events. DCARES is part of the American Radio Relay League.
• Douglas County Sheriff's Office Dive Team
  Underwater (scuba) rescue and recovery team. Membership restricted to persons employed in the emergency service field (law, fire, emergency medical, etc.).
• Explorer Search & Rescue (ESAR)
  ESAR Post #510 is a scouting organization that is sponsored by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The organization is open to anyone who is 14 years old (both male and female). The unit has two primary purposes:  To provide a SAR  organization to assist in search and rescue operations  and to provide a youth organization, which promotes self growth, responsibility, leadership skills, and community service.
• Douglas K-9 Search and Rescue
  This unit focus is training and use of dogs for SAR.

If you want to join Search and Rescue please print the Application and return it to the Sheriff's Office, Search and Rescue Division.  The application has to be a signed original (we can not accept faxed or emailed application).

Search and Rescue Application

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office follows the Oregon Sheriffs' Association / Oregon Emergency Managements "Minimum Standards for SAR Certification Training." The document that outlines these standards is available at the Sheriff's Office.

Below are some related links:

SAR  Information

SAR Training Schedule

Oregon SAR Statistics