Snohomish County Volunteer Search & Rescue

06/15/2026

⚽ Welcome to Snohomish County! 🌲

As soccer fans from around the world come to the Greater Seattle Area and Snohomish County for FIFA, we’re excited to welcome visitors to our corner of the Pacific Northwest!

Whether you’re here for a match, exploring a new area, or extending your trip to enjoy the outdoors, Snohomish County has plenty to offer — from scenic trails to rivers, lakes, and mountain views.

Before heading out on an adventure, take a few minutes to prepare:
📚 Research your route and know what to expect
🗺️ Bring a map and know where you are going
🔦 Carry the Ten Essentials — including a light source and extra layers
📱 Don’t rely only on your phone; service can be limited in many outdoor areas
👥 Tell someone your plans and when you expect to return

Our region is beautiful, but the mountains and wilderness can change quickly. A little preparation helps make sure your adventure is remembered for the right reasons.

Welcome to Washington — enjoy FIFA, explore safely, and have a great visit!

06/12/2026

💧 Water Safety Reminder 💧

As the weather warms up, we’re seeing more people heading out to enjoy rivers, waterfalls, and alpine lakes. While the air may be warm, the water is often still very cold and can be much more dangerous than it appears.

A few simple reminders before your next adventure:
🌊 Stay back from riverbanks, waterfall edges, and slippery rocks.
❄️ Rivers and alpine lakes stay cold year-round and can quickly lead to cold water shock if you fall in.
🏊 Wear a life jacket when you’re on or near the water. Even strong swimmers can get into trouble in cold, moving water.
🐕 Keep pets on a leash around rivers and waterfalls. Many incidents start when a dog gets into trouble near the water.
🚫 Avoid climbing on logs near rivers. Logs can shift unexpectedly and often have powerful currents moving underneath or around them.
👥 Travel with a partner when possible and let someone know where you’re going and when you plan to return.

We respond to water-related incidents every year, and many of them start with a simple slip, trip, or unexpected fall. Take a few extra precautions so your day outdoors ends with good memories.

Stay safe and enjoy the outdoors.

06/04/2026

Curious if SAR is right for you? Our monthly information sessions are a great way to get your questions answered! Join us for our next info session!

Friday, June 5
7:00 PM
Taylor’s Landing: 5506 Old Machias Road, Snohomish, WA 98290

You will have the opportunity to meet current SAR members, learn about our organization, search and rescue, available training, participation requirements, and more!

In addition, attendees will get to see examples of what gear we require so you can think about what you already may have at home versus what you may still need to acquire upon joining the organization.

Join us! We look forward to meeting you and answering your questions.

06/03/2026

🚨 Mission Recap 🚨

This past weekend, SCVSAR volunteers responded to multiple missions across Snohomish County, demonstrating the teamwork and versatility required in search and rescue operations. This is all in addition to several trainings that our teams participated in both on Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday, teams responded to Heather Lake for an injured hiker. After assessing the situation, it was determined that a packout was necessary to safely bring the hiker back to the trailhead.

While that mission was underway, another call came in for a hiker who had slipped from a rock and fallen into a river. Although she was able to self-rescue from the water, she became stranded on a beach on the opposite side of the river from the trail, with no safe way to cross back and steep, technical terrain preventing an easy hike out.

One team made voice contact with the hiker from across the river and was able to throw over additional gear to help her stay warm. Meanwhile, other teams gained access from above, set up a rope system approximately 210 feet above the subject's location, and lowered a rescuer down to her. The rescuer then assisted the hiker back up the slope, and teams bushwhacked approximately half a mile to reach a nearby road.

As these missions were unfolding, an SCVSAR hasty team also responded to check on a report of overdue hikers. Fortunately, those hikers were safe and simply running behind schedule.

These incidents serve as a reminder that conditions can change quickly outdoors. Slippery rocks, swift-moving water, rugged terrain, and unexpected delays can all turn an outing into an emergency. Always carry the Ten Essentials, use caution around rivers and waterfalls, and leave a trip plan with someone you trust.

Thank you to all of the volunteers and deputies who responded throughout the day to help keep our community safe.

05/21/2026

This week is National Search and Rescue Week, and we would like to take a moment to honor our incredible volunteers for their dedication and service to our community.

Just this week alone, our teams have contributed hundreds of man-hours on Search and Rescue operations, including the successful rescue of a lost hiker and the safe recovery of an elderly man with dementia.

Day or night, in difficult terrain and challenging conditions, these volunteers answer the call whenever there is a need. Their commitment, professionalism, and selfless service make a difference when people are experiencing some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Please join us in sending a huge thank you to all of our Search and Rescue volunteers for the sacrifices they make so that others may live. We are grateful for each and every one of you. 🧡

Yesterday, a 90-year-old Arlington man living with dementia went missing. Thankfully, he was located shortly after by search and rescue canine team K9 Banks and handler Linda Binkley, along with support person Nikki Lembke.

An incredible find and outstanding teamwork by everyone involved. The gentleman was found just in time, and the outcome could have been very different had Snohomish County Volunteer Search & Rescue not located him when they did. Great work to all involved!

05/10/2026

🚨 Mission Recap 🚨

Early this morning, SCVSAR responded with a hasty team of two EMTs to assist a backpacker experiencing a medical emergency in the backcountry.

After arriving on scene, our hasty team assessed and treated the patient. It quickly became apparent that, due to the patient’s condition, they would not be able to safely walk out. A request was made for a helicopter evacuation, and SnoHawk 10 responded to hoist the patient from the scene and transport them to Providence ER for further care.

At the same time, additional SCVSAR ground teams began hiking in with extra medical and rescue equipment in the event inclement weather or other conditions prevented the helicopter from completing the hoist mission. Having backup plans and multiple resources in motion is an important part of how SAR operations are conducted safely and effectively.

The patient and patient’s partner were able to initiate the rescue using the Emergency SOS feature on their iPhone, allowing communication through satellite texting where there was no cell service. Through coordination between Snohomish County 911, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, and the SCVSAR hasty team, responders were able to exchange information with the patient prior to teams arriving on scene, helping us better assess the seriousness of the situation and respond appropriately.

This mission highlights the importance of preparation, communication, and teamwork in the backcountry. Technology like satellite emergency messaging can be a valuable tool when used alongside proper planning and preparedness.

Thank you to all of our responders who helped get this patient out of the backcountry safely.

Snohomish County Sheriff's Office Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team Snohomish County 911

04/25/2026

Curious if SAR is right for you? Our monthly information sessions are a great way to get your questions answered! Join us for our next info session!

Friday, May 1st
7:00 PM
Taylor’s Landing: 5506 Old Machias Road, Snohomish, WA 98290

You will have the opportunity to meet current SAR members, learn about our organization, search and rescue, available training, participation requirements, and more!

In addition, attendees will get to see examples of what gear we require so you can think about what you already may have at home versus what you may still need to acquire upon joining the organization.

Join us! We look forward to meeting you and answering your questions.

04/17/2026

🚨 SCVSAR Unit Spotlight: Explorer Search and Rescue (ESAR) 🚨

Search and rescue isn’t just for adults. The Explorer Search and Rescue (ESAR) unit is where the next generation of SAR volunteers gets their start.

Open to youth ages 14–21, ESAR members train in navigation, survival skills, first aid, and teamwork while gaining real experience in search and rescue operations across Snohomish County. ESAR members are required to complete the same training as our adult members and deploy alongside our adult members equally.

Many ESAR members continue their SAR journey by joining one of our adult units when they turn 18.

ESAR meets monthly at Taylor’s Landing in Snohomish for training and coordination.

Pictured here is an ESAR member being lowered on a rope rescue system at a training event.

Interested in learning more? Join one of our informational meetings held the first Friday of each month at Taylors Landing in Snohomish (5506 Old Machias Road, Snohomish, WA 98290), or visit: https://scvsar.org/

04/16/2026

🍔 Today’s the Day! Support SCVSAR at Five Guys 🍔

Today, April 16, stop by Five Guys in Marysville or Monroe and support Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue (SCVSAR)!

📍 Marysville & Monroe locations
• Monroe – 14650 N Kelsey St
• Marysville – 2707 171st Pl NE

⏰ 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Enjoy a meal while supporting your local SAR volunteers—a portion of proceeds goes directly to Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue.

Thank you for supporting our team—we hope to see you today!