ALCO SAR INC

Being a volunteer for ALCO Search & Rescue is an unpaid job, and we are unpaid professionals. Search and Rescue (SAR) requires a huge training commitment and dedication to respond 24 hours a day. It often means phone calls and notifications in the middle of the night to respond to emergencies.

Our membership varies between 90 and 100 members, with experience ranging from first-time searchers to 35 year veterans. About a quarter of our members are K9 handlers who have “mission-ready” search dogs certified in tracking/trailing, area search, and human remains detection for land and water. All of our members participate in a Basic SAR Academy developed to meet nationally recognized standards for Search and Rescue. Upon completion of the Basic SAR Academy, members will continue to progress through additional training to complete the requirements for SAR Typing in accordance State of California Mutual Aid Guidelines. ALCO SAR uses a variety of nationally recognized organizations, such as NASAR, ASTM and NFPA to establish our requirements for SAR field ready deployment.

Our unit responds at the request of local government agencies to assist to lost and missing persons, support disaster response - Earthquake, Fire, Flood, Storm / Weather Emergencies, missing and overdue aircraft and technical rescue response in wilderness areas., We provide equipment and man-power to for these requests. Our members receive specialized training for SAR, about 60 hours and we provide on going in service training to our members to maintain their SAR skills, Incident Management, Vehicle Operations and a variety of other skills and training for Search and Rescue.