About Missoula County Search and Rescue

Missoula County Search and Rescue is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization serving Missoula County under the direction of the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office. Our members come from many different backgrounds, but we share a common purpose: helping people in times of need with professionalism, compassion, and teamwork. We are committed to being ready when the community needs us and to serving with the steady, organized approach that search and rescue work demands.

Our Mission and Role

MCSAR exists to assist when people are lost, injured, stranded, or otherwise in need of help. Our role is to support the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office in search and rescue operations and to provide trained, capable volunteers who can respond in difficult and often time-sensitive situations. We are not self-dispatched; emergency response is activated through the Sheriff’s Office so that missions are coordinated, accountable, and integrated into the county’s overall emergency response system. That structure helps ensure a clear chain of command and an organized response when conditions are stressful and stakes are high.

Where and How We Serve

Missoula County includes a wide range of terrain and conditions, from mountains and remote roads to rivers, backcountry areas, and changing seasonal weather. Because of that, search and rescue work here requires flexibility, preparation, and the ability to operate in challenging environments. MCSAR members are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and may respond to a broad variety of incidents, including searches for lost or missing people, rescues of injured individuals, field medical support, recovery missions, and mutual-aid requests when additional help is needed. Many missions take place in remote or difficult-to-access locations where reaching a subject safely can require time, planning, and significant field effort.

Training, Skills, and Capability

Search and rescue depends on more than a willingness to help. It requires regular training, sound judgment, physical readiness, and the ability to work effectively as a team. MCSAR trains throughout the year to maintain operational capability and prepare members for the wide variety of situations they may face. Public information about the team reflects capabilities in areas such as rope rescue, winter operations, avalanche response, water-related rescue, drone operations, and other technical field work. Depending on the mission, operations may involve hiking access, navigation, communications systems, snowmobiles, ATVs, UTVs, boats, and other specialized resources used to safely reach and assist people in difficult terrain.

Medical Readiness and Professional Service

Medical capability is an important part of the team’s readiness. Missoula County Search and Rescue is a State of Montana licensed Basic Life Support / Non-Transport agency, and its membership includes Wilderness First Responders, Wilderness EMTs, EMTs, Advanced EMTs, and Paramedics. Just as important as technical skill is the way that skill is applied. Every mission involves people who may be scared, injured, overdue, or facing one of the worst moments of their lives. We strive to approach each response with calm, professionalism, and respect, while providing capable and organized assistance when it is needed most.

Community Support, Outreach, and Donations

MCSAR’s work extends beyond emergency missions. The team also participates in community outreach, including safety demonstrations, educational events, and standby support. As a volunteer-powered nonprofit organization, MCSAR does not charge for its services, and we believe people should be able to call for help when they need it without fear of receiving a bill for the team’s response. Charitable donations are tax-deductible and help support training, equipment, readiness, and the continued ability of the team to serve the community. Whether you are here to learn more about our mission, support the team, or connect with us through outreach or membership interest, we appreciate your interest in Missoula County Search and Rescue and the community that makes this work possible.