The Search and Rescue (SAR) Unit works under the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services.

The Mission of the SAR Unit is to:

• Provide Emergency Services to Citizens and Visitors of Madera County who are lost, stranded or injured.
• Provide services necessary to rescue such persons and provide them appropriate medical care
• Handle all search and rescue operations in a professional manner

Our mission of saving lives is accomplished through the support of highly trained volunteers and sworn Deputy Sheriff's. The SAR Unit is overseen by a Sheriff’s Commander, Sheriff’s OES Sergeant, and 10 Deputy Sheriffs. Although the Sheriff’s Office coordinates the Search and Rescue Unit, without the participation of volunteers, the highly effective and professional Search and Rescue teams that make up the unit would not be possible. The SAR Unit has over 100 volunteers. Currently, the SAR Unit runs about 85 SAR Calls per year. 

Missions

Missions can happen any place and at any time. Missions can take our SAR Members from the valley floor all the way to Ritter Mountain, the highest peak in Madera County just under 14,000 Feet. Our members enjoy variety opportunities from riding in military Blackhawk helicopters to hanging off granite cliffs. Parts of Madera County are even on the eastern side of the Sierra such as Devils Postpile National Monument, Reds Meadow, Rainbow Falls, Pacific Crest Trail, and John Muir Trail.

Examples of typical rescue missions handled by the Unit are:  

• Search for lost/injured skiers both at resorts and back country.
• Respond to plane crashes in wilderness or in lakes and/or ponds.
• Injured hikers on several United States Forest Service Trails
• River rescues in local streams/rivers.