Fremont County Search & Rescue is committed to using all resources at our disposal to locate lost and missing persons, rescue stranded or injured individuals not easily accessible by ambulance, and provide the Sheriff’s Office extra manpower when requested. Our mission is carried out through use of expertise and technology at our disposal, always with attention paid to the safety of all parties involved. Further, it is our intent to educate the public and private sector on what Search and Rescue is, and what to do if you become lost.
Fremont County Search & Rescue started off as the Civil Air Patrol in the mid-1950's. Some of the founding members were Jess Bauer, Lloyd Griffel, Fred Griffel, Estle 'Pretz" Sadorus, and Bob Bear. Swede Faucett, Harry Worrell, Dale Barney Elmer Rucker, and Paul Hopperdietzel had 4 wheel drives and snowmobiles, as well as other useful equipment. They worked with other state units when they could, such as Soda Springs and Idaho Falls.
Monte Later and Doc Ernest Pence were in charge of outfitting Mountaineers.
Blaine Miller was in charge of boats for water searches.
Dale Hill, Arnold Bowen, Curly Angel -Cutter and Horses Association
Darryl Davis and Postmaster Crapo had Sand Buggies that helped out with the desert searches.
They all started out operating with CB radios and as the Government started assigning private frequencies and helping establish communications for the units, they switched to more modern equipment.
The Fremont County Search & Rescue Unit, is a devoted group of 35 volunteers that donate their time and use of their personal equipment to assist residents and visitors of Fremont County, who have found themselves in a predicament, while experiencing our beautiful area. The Unit operates under the authority of the Fremont County Sheriff. We are a non profit entity that relies heavily on Donations to purchase and maintain equipment and to provide training to ensure our high Search & Rescue success rate. FCSAR has to be diverse due to the various terrain and recreational opportunities that the County offers. FCSAR is a close family of friends who look after and support each other to minimize the risk of accident, while maximizing the probability of a successful mission. If you need Search & Rescue Please Dial 911.
What we offer
Our Unit possesses the training, skills, and equipment to Search for, Rescue, and/or Recover: Avalanche Victims, Snowmobilers, Hunters, Boaters, Fishermen, Hikers, Campers, ATV/Motorcyclers, Photographers, Grain Bin Rescue/Recovery, Swimmers, Skin/Scuba Divers, River Floaters/Tubers, Kayakers, Rock Climbers (High Angle Rescue), Spelunkers (Cave Explorers), Downed Aircraft, 4X4 Off Roaders/Trail Riders, Suburban Searches for the wandering/confused elderly and the evading/hiding young child, the exploring BYU-I Student, and even rescuing an occasional dog stranded by the icy waters of the Snake River.
Passing the Torch
Fremont County Search & Rescue has organized a Jr. Search & Rescue Program. The Jr. Search & Rescue age range is from 16 to 21. They work alongside Sr. Members, gaining the skills and knowledge to Govern their unit, Organize and hold fundraisers, and Execute a successful search mission. At the age of 21 the Jr. Member is allowed to roll over to the Sr. Membership.
County Information
Fremont County is a recreationist dream. According to the United States Census Bureau, Fremont County has a total area of 1,896 square miles, of which, 1,867 square miles of it is land and 29 square miles of it (1.52%) is water {Lakes, Reservoirs, Ponds, Rivers, Canals, Streams, Creeks, Ditches, and Swamp. About 2.7 square miles of the county is rural towns: St. Anthony (1.3 square miles), Ashton (.6 square miles), Teton (.5 square miles), and Parker (.3 square miles). The rest is Desert, Mountains, Forests Sand Dunes, Undeveloped Land and Farm Land. Fremont County is almost as big as the entire State of Delaware.
Equipment
With all the recreational opportunities available, FCSAR must have the proper equipment and training to be able to access and rectify any recreational predicament a person visiting or living here might get in to. Equipment requires maintenance and repair and that requires money. We possess Boats, Snowmobiles, Snow Bikes, Snowcat, Trailers, Mobile Command Center, Chain Saws, Dive Equipment, Avalanche Gear, Toboggans, Repelling Hardware, and other life saving equipment, all need to be maintained and verified to be in good working order. Our Unit owns over a mile of static and dynamic rope in various lengths and diameters that must be routinely inspected and replaced every 5 Years. We have over $75,000 invested in 400MHz communications: 4 Stationary Repeaters, 2 Mobile Repeaters, 3 Simplex Repeaters, 40 Handhelds, 20 Mobiles and 10 700MHz Radios.
Donations
It's difficult to estimate the financial cost of rescue operations in terms of man hours. Fremont County Search & Rescue volunteers donate their time and personal equipment.
FCSAR does not bill individuals for their services and always welcomes donations, but often, does not receive funds from people they help.
Fremont County Search & Rescue is a Non– Profit Organization. Your donations to the unit are tax deductible. Donations are used to purchase new equipment, maintain current equipment, train and certify members in various Search & Rescue disciplines, and to pay monthly expenses. The members spend many hours attempting to raise money from fundraiser projects to turn around and purchase equipment, training, and lifesaving measures.
You can send a Secure Donation through PayPal to [email protected] or mail a check to Fremont County Search & Rescue, 331 W 1st S, St. Anthony, ID 83445-2102. “We appreciate your support.”
