Douglas County Search and Rescue

10/16/2026

We recently had the pleasure of visiting with students in Ponderosa High School’s forensics class to share our team’s work, with a focus on evidence searches & crime scene preservation. We also demonstrated how we use drones w/ forensic software to support these efforts in the field.

We always enjoy connecting with bright, curious students & sharing a glimpse of the tools & teamwork that make our missions possible.

10/12/2026

Good perspective from long-time Mountain Rescue Association and team leader Michael St John on preparing, handling, and successfully resolving “IWI”… incident within an incident.

What happens when the person who needs rescuing is one of your own team members?

This Meridian article explores the importance of preparing for an “Incident Within an Incident” (IWI)—from making a clear emergency radio call to coordinating resources and managing the original mission while caring for an injured rescuer.

The takeaway is simple: we need to train to rescue ourselves, too.

Read more: https://mra.org/preparing-and-training-for-an-in-field-emergency/

10/10/2026

85 degrees in beautiful Douglas County - Government, so what’s the team doing? Extra training, preparing for winter and 2027 Rocky Mountain Region of the Mountain Rescue Association reaccreditation, specifically winter skills. Avalanche search and rescue as well as winter technical rescue.

Great work by all teammates but our safety officers had to brief on dangers of snakes and cacti while simulating snow. 😃

10/10/2026

At noon today, our team was activated for a seriously injured dirt bike rider in Rampart Range, approximately 2.5 miles in from Gramps Trailhead.

Jackson 105 & Castle Rock Fire personnel made first contact with the patient and immediately began working to stabilize their condition. DCSAR deployed ground & ATV teams equipped with a litter transport system to support treatment & evacuation.

The patient was secured in an ATV litter transport & moved toward the trailhead, while rescuers closely monitored their condition. After AirLife landed, two flight medical personnel were transported by ATV to meet the extraction team, providing advanced medical treatment while the evacuation continued.

We’re grateful to report that the rider was successfully evacuated to the landing zone, transferred to the helicopter, & flown to a higher level of care.

This was a true lifesaving team effort. From first patient contact through ATV extraction & helicopter transport, every agency played a vital role in getting a critically injured rider the help they urgently needed.

Our sincere thanks to Jackson 105 Fire Protection District, Castle Rock Fire And Rescue Department HCA Healthone AirLife, Douglas County Sheriff's Office & our DCSAR volunteers for the skill, coordination, & dedication that made this response possible.

09/28/2026

Last night, our team was activated for an injured hiker on the Devils Head Trail. A person at the trailhead used a call box to report that the hiker was about three quarters of the way up the trail with a leg injury.

Medics from Jackson 105 & Larkspur Fire made first contact, assessed the patient & determined that a litter evacuation was needed.

DCSAR deployed ground teams with a litter + wheel system, along with additional medical & warming supplies.

Together, the teams packaged the patient & evacuated them to the Devils Head parking lot for further medical care. We're very grateful to Jackson 105 Fire Protection District & Larkspur Fire Protection District for their outstanding teamwork & care throughout the rescue.

This mission is also a very important reminder to always carry a way to communicate when heading into the backcountry. If you or someone in your group needs help, the ability to quickly share your location & condition can make a difference.

09/27/2026

A very full weekend. In addition to night training last evening, we were activated for a brief mission yesterday afternoon for a dirt bike rider in Rampart, and again for an equestrian injury this morning in Indian Creek. Always a privilege to serve with West Douglas County Fire Protection District, South Metro Fire Rescue and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Stay safe out there.

09/27/2026

We had the privilege of participating in the Douglas County Fall Festival at Sandstone yesterday. A great event, and the great opportunity to chat with a host of wonderful folks coming through during the day.

09/27/2026

Excellent night training last evening (into this morning). Many of our missions occur overnight, so training in the dark is important as well. Two excellent scenarios on very challenging terrain. Followed by great team time with the chili and cornbread prepared by the leader of the training. Teamwork - and team building - is essential for us. We train hard to be at our best when you need us. But stay safe out there.

09/26/2026

Many thanks to James Fiddler for his work in this interview, combining El Paso County Search and Rescue, Pueblo County Search and Rescue, and us, Douglas County Search and Rescue. EPCSAR kicks things off with a rescue story, followed by Pueblo (at 5 minutes in) covering services they provide, and DCSAR (at 14 minutes in) talking about our search and rescue focus and what a typical rescue mission looks like. And, of course, all of us sharing backcountry safety considerations and recommendations. Hope you enjoy it.

James is focusing on Search and Rescue this program, hearing from several SAR organizations across the front range. The program begins with rescue stories from El Paso County SAR, before turning to Pueblo County SAR to discuss the services provided in Colorado, and finally closing out with Douglas C...

09/22/2026

Thank you to Wisconsin K9 SOS for the earlier share of this. We train hard and often to be at our best when you need us. But stay safe out there.