Attention Public Safety Agencies (police, fire, emergency management offices, etc.): NFSAR is available to offer self-sustained personnel, crew boss (DEC Searcher 1/team supervisor) support, K9 capability, and technical rescue operational support with little to no lead time. We may be requested at any time during any season by contacting the Erie County Sheriff's Office dispatchers. For further information, contact us at this page or at [email protected]. About NFSAR:
Our team is composed of dedicated men and women committed to providing Western NY and surrounding areas with an organization of trained land search and rescue volunteers. Our objective and purpose is to:
• Provide trained land-based search and rescue personnel for lost or missing person incidents,
• Assist other agencies with technical rural or backcountry rescue and evacuation of injured or lost individuals from rough terrain or hazardous backcountry environments,
• Develop specially trained personnel to respond to K-9, Technical Rope and Winter/Cold Weather search and rescue operations,
• Disseminate information and conduct training programs for NFSAR team members and others concerning outdoor safety and search and rescue operations, and
• Associate with similar organizations in Western New York and the State of New York for the furtherance of the objectives of the Organization. Similar to other volunteer organizations, members bear the cost of equipment, uniforms and travel, as well as volunteer their time for meetings, training events and responding to team activations. While this is a volunteer organization, attendance at, and participation in, training events and searches are very important. Upon completion of the Basic SAR Academy, members are expected to meet specific baseline membership requirements, including:
• Attendance at no less than two (2) quarterly organizational meetings
• Attendance at no less than four (4) monthly team training events
• Being capable of meeting and maintaining the minimum NFSAR physical fitness readiness standard consisting of successfully hiking 2 miles on level terrain with a 25lb pack in 30 minutes or less (U.S. Forest Service Wildland Firefighter Work Capacity Test – Moderate)
• Remaining current with their required certifications, and
• Providing your response status for all team activation alerts. To apply for membership, you must be at least twenty-one (21) year of age and a citizen of the United States. For your application to be considered by the Membership Committee (at the appropriate time in this process), you will need to include copies of the following certifications:
• Proof of current Basic CPR certification
• Proof of current Basic First Aid certification (minimum requirement – higher level certs are always welcome )
• Certificate demonstrating completion of the free on-line FEMA training course ICS-100 (Introduction to Incident Command System), and
• Certificate demonstrating completion of the free on-line FEMA training course ICS-700 (National Incident Management System – An Introduction)
