Douglas County Search and Rescue

10/24/2026

We had the privilege of participating in the Jackson 105 Fire Protection District "Trunk or Treat" event today - what a wonderful time. Great opportunity to see so many families, and so many fun costumes. And we'd sure rather meet you in a fun venue like this than on a trail late at night :). Stay safe out there.

10/22/2026

With hunting seasons underway, backcounty safety is even more important. Great article below with some excellent guidance (cut and pasted from the article):
* Wear a fluorescent orange or pink vest, jacket or hat
* If you hike with a dog, put a fluorescent orange or pink vest or bandana on the dog, too. Keep them on a short leash.
* Hiking during mid-day hours, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., rather than at dawn or dusk, will ensure that you are recreating at the slowest hunting hours.
* Hiking on trails close to towns or in heavily used parks, rather than in remote backcountry areas, puts less pressure on game as they are not living in these areas or are more habituated to humans.
* Stick to established trails where hunters expect to see people
* If you hear gunshots, make some noise. Shout, “hikers on trail!”

Autumn is a wonderful time to hike in the backcountry of Colorado.  Temperatures are cooler, the air is crisp, and the colors are beautiful.  What should people know about hiking safely during hunting season? The...

10/22/2026

Many of our team have had the privilege of learning from Dale - both in his knowledge and even more so in his role model. Well earned recognition, congratulations Dale!

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.