Washoe County Search & Rescue

07/19/2026

06/07/2026

As we head into the summer season, Washoe County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue is sharing an important water safety reminder.

While air temperatures may be warming up, water temperatures throughout our region remain extremely cold and can create dangerous conditions for even experienced recreationists.

If you plan to enjoy our rivers, lakes, and waterways this summer, wear a life jacket and always recreate responsibly. Avoid swimming or boating while impaired, and use extra caution around areas with strong currents, high water flow, and fast-moving water.

Stay safe and enjoy all the incredible water recreation opportunities Northern Nevada has to offer.

04/19/2026

We are excited to announce a major milestone for search and rescue in our community. The Hasty Team, Specialized Vehicle Unit, and the legacy WCSAR team have officially joined forces to become a single, unified team under the Washoe County Search & Rescue (WCSAR) name.

By combining our specialized skills—from technical rope rescues and rapid response to off-road extraction—into one cohesive organization, we are streamlining our operations to serve our community better and faster.

While our new patches might look a little different, our commitment remains the same: So that others may live.

Washoe County Sheriff's Office
Mountain Rescue Association

03/27/2026

One year ago today, WCSAR lost one of our own. Jeff Mohn was a longtime member of WCSAR and a veteran of other SAR teams from other places he had lived.

Jeff was one of our tracking experts and was instrumental in WCSAR becoming a fully-accredited Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) team. In addition to being one our Backcountry and Rope Rescue technicians, Jeff was a longtime ski patroller and enjoyed just about every other outdoor activity you could think of.

Jeff fought cancer for over two years and never gave up. He was an inspiration to us then, as he still is now.

And we miss him.

03/13/2026

On Tuesday, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office RAVEN Unit's Helicopter Rescue Team conducted hoist rescue training near Relay Peak (el.10,338') in the Mt Rose Wilderness. This training simulated the rapid deployment of Washoe County Search and Rescue Helicopter Rescue Technicians responding to an avalanche deep in the backcountry.

There are many popular backcountry ski areas in Washoe County and the surrounding region that would take ground-based rescuers hours to reach by snowshoes, skis, or tracked vehicles in the event of a serious emergency. With good weather, RAVEN can potentially deploy WCSAR Helicopter Rescue Technicians to many of these areas in an hour or less, providing potentially life-saving medical care and evacuation as quickly as possible.

Washoe County Sheriff's Office
Mountain Rescue Association
California Region of the Mountain Rescue Association
Sierra Avalanche Center