Mason County Search & Rescue (MCSAR) is 501(c)(3) regional search and rescue organization operating under Mason County Emergency Management.
MCSAR team is comprised of outdoor enthusiasts with a passion for helping others. All team members are un-paid volunteers.
MCSAR does not charge for its services and is solely funded by its members and supporters.
MCSAR specializes in wilderness search and rescue. All members are highly trained in wilderness navigation, survival skills, search method theory, radio communication, critical stress, ropes, knots, and First Aid. The vast majority of our operations include searching for lost or injured hikers and climbers, stabilizing injuries, and evacuating them to the next level of care. Most operations are completed within a few hours of the 911 call, however, depending on the circumstances of each mission they can span multiple days or even weeks.
In addition to wilderness search and rescue, MCSAR can conducts searches in urban environments to look for missing at-risk individuals such as dementia patients, young children, and those with developmental disabilities; people who are not readily capable of finding their way back. These operations typically involve searching large, urban, or residential areas, and green spaces. Sometimes these searches involve going door-to-door and searching inside local businesses.
MCSAR also assists the Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies by conducting evidence searches. Often these searches are for items related to recent incidents. Sometimes evidence searches also take us to suspected locations of decades-old cold cases to search for bones, weapons, or other artifacts that may help bring closure.
MCSAR works as a stand-alone team or attached to others teams operating under an Incident Command System and stands ready to help as needed. Additional areas of specialty include:
- Mobile and ORV Unit
MCSAR provides personnel and 4 wheel drive vehicles for on or off-road SAR operations. 4×4 units are used for transportation of SAR personnel, search dogs, supplies, and equipment. - Operations and Logistics
This unit handles all our base camp functions including organizing teams, identifying areas to search, communications and maps. - Canine Unit
MCSAR maintains a Canine team of members who have a national certification in Airscent, Trailing and/or Human Remains. These teams often have completed additional advanced training in helicopter procedures and safety, snow travel, and avalanche rescue.