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Who We Are

 KCSR is an all volunteer, non-profit organization, formed in 1991 at the request of the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office. 

Our Mission

  KCSR’s mission is to provide personnel for Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office to conduct search, rescue, recovery, and evacuation operations, primarily within Kittitas County. KCSR does not act in any capacity except at the direction of the Sheriff’s Office. 

What We Do

 The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office 

calls on KCSR for various types of missions, including:

  • Lost or missing persons
  • Injured hikers or climbers
  • Lost or injured snowmobilers
  • Avalanche search and recovery
  • Airplane crashes
  • Evidence searches
  • Forest fire road closures
  • Floods/evacuations 

Our Teams

KCSR is organized into different teams, each specializing in components of a SAR operation:
 

  • Basic Ground Team 
  • Backcountry & Rope Team
  • Winter Backcountry Team
  • Dog (K9) Team
  • Horse Team
  • Snowmobile Team
  • ORV/ATV Team
  • Communication & Mission Support Team
  • UAS Team
  • Youth Search and Rescue Team

Communications & Mission Support Team

Provides radio communications, mapping and Operations support at base camp. The MST provides logistical support for SAR members in the field.

Basic Ground Team

The Ground Team is the heart of SAR. AKA, The Ground Pounders, the team is the entry point for new members and provides the base for building new skills and expertise in SAR.

Backcountry & Rope Team

The Backcountry Team is our more advanced ground team. They operate in more remote, technical and advanced wilderness settings with weather and terrain extremes. 

Winter Backcountry Ground

Operating in alpine winter environments, specifically trained in avalanche rescue and recovery. They are experts in backcountry travel with skis & snowshoes. 

Dog (K9) Team

Dog Team members (human and K9) are highly-skilled teams providing air-scent, tracking/trailing avalanche & Human Remains Detection to our missions.

Horse Team

Our Horse Team members carry rescue equipment that would be difficult for a Ground Team members to carry a great distance. Horses are also used to search roads and trails during search operations. 

Snowmobile Team

Our Snowmobile Team members are experienced not only in on-sled techniques but they are intimately familiar with the winter recreation areas, allowing them to quickly reach those in need. 

Off Road Vehicle Team

Our Snowmobile Team members are experienced not only in on-sled techniques but they are intimately familiar with the winter recreation areas, allowing them to reach those in need quickly when they are in need. 

UAS (Drone) Team

Using small packable drones as well as larger multi-rotor systems with infrared cameras, the UAS team is able to get deep into a search area quickly and performed search operations in areas that may not be accessible by Ground Teams.

Youth Search and Rescue Team

Kittitas County Youth Search & Rescue teaches life and career skills to youth 14-18 through hands on experiences assisting with search and rescue operations and other emergency services under the direction of Kittitas County Sheriff's Office.

Donate to KCSR Today!

We are a 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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Join or Contact KCSR

If you have any questions about what we do or how to join, just fill out the contact form below to get started!

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Kittitas County Search and Rescue

P.O. Box 1494 Ellensburg WA 98926

kittitascountyrescue@gmail.com

We are always open!
Just call 911 for emergency service!

Copyright © 2021 Kittitas County Search and Rescue - All Rights Reserved.

Kittitas County Search and Rescue is a 501c3, non-profit organization operating under the authority and jurisdiction of the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office, as defined in 

RCW 38.52.400 

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