El Dorado Search and Rescue

10/14/2026

That’s a wrap! Congratulations to the Fall 2026 El Dorado County Search and Rescue Academy Recruits for completing the field training this past weekend at Browns Ravine recreation area!

From classroom theory to practical ex*****on. Over a two-day intensive final field exercise, recruits locked in their skills across the board:

Saturday: Land navigation, terrain triangulation, and technical obstacle traversal.

Sunday: Systematic grid searches, man-tracking, wilderness survival, shelter building, and firecraft.

Technical Integration: Comprehensive drone awareness with a tactical safety demonstration.

To our newest searchers: thank you for the commitment you’ve poured into preparing yourselves to serve. And to our instructors: thank you for volunteering your time, expertise, and patience to help build our next generation of operational volunteers. Because of this dedication, our searchers are ready to answer the call. 🏔️

10/08/2026

Class is in session! Week 1 of our Search and Rescue Academy is officially in the books. 🌲🥾

Our newest recruit class jumped straight into the fundamentals this week including receiving and introduction to SAR , tacking essential land navigation training, and getting hands-on with communications and radio training.

Building a solid, standardized foundation from day one is everything. Having every searcher receive the same top-tier training ensures that when duty calls, real-life missions run smoothly, cohesively, and safely in the field.

We’re also thrilled to welcome and host two recruits from Sacramento County SAR at our academy this term; inter-agency collaboration makes all of our teams stronger!

Interested in making a difference in your community? If you have questions about what it takes or how to join SAR, let us know! We typically host two recruit academies each year—one in the spring and one in the fall.

“So that others may live”

09/11/2026

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Today and every day, El Dorado County Search and Rescue honors and upholds the promise to remember the lives lost on that heartbreaking day.

2,977 lives lost
343 FDNY members
72 law enforcement officers
Hundreds of first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice

And in the 25 years since, many more first responders, recovery workers, survivors, and others exposed to the aftermath of the attacks have lost their lives to 9/11-related illnesses.

May we always remember the lives lost and honor the first responders and citizens who made the selfless sacrifice to save the lives of others, at the cost of their own. We also honor those who came together in the days, months, and years that followed to serve, rebuild, and help our nation heal.

This day stands as a somber and powerful reminder of service, selflessness, and unity.

9•11•2001 — Never Forget.

09/04/2026

Happy Labor Day from El Dorado Search & Rescue!

We're volunteers. We'd love the day off too. 😉

As you head out to enjoy the long weekend, help us celebrate Labor Day by giving our Search & Rescue volunteers as little work as possible.

Whether you're hiking, boating, camping, or exploring the backcountry, take a few minutes before you head out:

• Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to return.
• Bring plenty of water and the essentials for an unexpected night out.
• Download your maps before you lose cell service.
• Know your limits and be willing to turn around.
• And please—don't rely on your phone having service when you need it.

Have fun, be safe, and enjoy everything El Dorado County has to offer this Labor Day.

If you do end up getting lost this weekend, don’t worry - we will still be here to find you.

So That Others May Live.

08/27/2026

Over the past three days, members of El Dorado County Search and Rescue joined the extensive mutual aid effort to locate missing hiker Ian Roberts in Placer County.

After receiving a mutual aid request Saturday evening, El Dorado County deployed resources Sunday through Tuesday, including ground search teams, UAS (drone) teams, Swiftwater teams, Incident Support Team (IST) members, and Echo 1, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office helicopter.

Sadly, Ian was located deceased.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Ian’s family and friends during this difficult time.

We are grateful to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office for allowing us to assist, and to the hundreds of Search and Rescue volunteers and public safety personnel from across Northern California who worked together throughout this search.

While this was not the outcome any of us hoped for, we are proud to stand alongside our neighboring SAR teams whenever the call comes.

08/20/2026

𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙖𝙮, 𝙎𝘼𝙍’𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮! 🌙

Rescue missions don’t wait for daylight. Our SAR volunteers remain committed to preparing for all types of searches - no matter the time of day!

Recently, our Search and Rescue team conducted a nighttime navigation exercise designed to simulate a real-world mission.

Teams were assigned individual search segments and tasked with navigating through the terrain after dark to locate a simulated overdue hiker.

Once the subject was located, team members assessed and treated simulated injuries, coordinated the rescue response, and brought in a wheeled litter to extricate the hiker from the field.

Training in realistic conditions helps our volunteers sharpen the navigation, search, medical, communication, and patient-extrication skills needed when the call comes in — day or night.

07/14/2026

This past weekend we deployed a K9 team to the Desolation Wilderness as part of a continuing search operation.

A huge thank you to Echo Lake Chalet for providing boat transportation across Echo Lakes. Their support helps our search teams conserve energy for the long miles and challenging terrain—making a real difference in our ability to focus on the mission.

We also appreciate the continued partnership with Tahoe Search and Rescue throughout this operation.

So That Others May Live.

07/07/2026

ANOTHER LIFE.
ANOTHER MISSION.

This past 4th of July weekend, we received reports of a missing person. That night, we deployed a K9 team and began preparing for a large-scale search the next day.
Monday's operation involved multiple resources working together— ground teams, OHV, drones, K9, and our Incident Support Team.
In the early afternoon, we located the subject and were able to reunite her with her family. Thank you to our volunteers, partner agencies, and the community for your continued support.

05/31/2026

Our volunteers remain actively engaged in the ongoing search for Jason Coughran alongside an incredible team of search and rescue professionals and volunteers from across California and Nevada.

We are grateful for the continued support of our partner agencies, community members, businesses, and the many volunteers dedicating their time and expertise to this effort. Search and Rescue is truly a team endeavor, and the collaboration being demonstrated on this mission is remarkable.

Please continue to keep Jason and his family in your thoughts and share official updates from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.

05/27/2026

El Dorado Search and Rescue Team is assisting in the ongoing search for overdue hiker Jason Coughran in the Desolation Wilderness.

If you were in the Desolation Wilderness / Fallen Leaf Lake / Angora Peak area on or after May 25th and may have seen Jason, please contact the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.

Please share to help us reach the outdoor community.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office needs your help. Our staff are actively working a search and rescue in Desolation Wilderness with Search and Rescue staff. We are currently searching for an overdue subject, Jason Coughran. Jason is described as a white male adult, he is 60 years old, 6'02" in height and 150 pounds. He has brown hair, hazel eyes, and has an athletic build. He was hiking into Desolation Wilderness from Fallen Leaf Lake. He is believed to be wearing khaki shorts, but unknown clothing for certain. He was last heard from at approximately 4:00 pm on May 25th, 2026. If you were hiking in the area, and came across Jason, please contact the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office at: 530-621-6600 or 530-573-3051.

Please know that the weather can be unpredictable in the high elevations. Please plan accordingly when venturing in the wilderness.