Whatcom County Search and Rescue
Search and Rescue has been in Whatcom County since 1955, when Bellingham Mountain Rescue was formed. Around 1970, the Sheriff’s Department stopped by a local garage asking a Jeep club to assist with a search for lost subjects. This led to the formation of the Whatcom County 4×4 Search and Rescue. 1972. In 1982, Whatcom County Search and Rescue incorporated the Whatcom County Search and Rescue Council. The WCSAR Council brings all the units together and has a monthly meeting to discuss important issues. WCSAR is an umbrella for all five units: Bellingham Mountain Rescue, Whatcom County 4×4 Search and Rescue, Whatcom County Emergency Communications, Whatcom County Dive Rescue, and Summit to Sound Search and Rescue.
Missions in Whatcom County are coordinated by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
WCSAR and its member units work closely with the WCSO and the WC division of emergency management.
We are here
for the community
WCSAR can be seen throughout the year at Ski to Sea, parades, and safety fairs. Between missions and trainings, we offer community support by providing safety at various events.
We are here
for Training
Our training includes, but is not limited to, water rescue, evidence searches, lost subjects, patient packaging, transport, and rope rescue.
How we help the community:
- Search for missing persons (hikers, hunters, children, and the elderly).
- Rescue of stranded people (wilderness, rivers, bays, storms)
- Emergency transport in severe weather
- Disasters
- Safety Education
How we help other agencies:
- Additional manpower
- A wide range of communications
- Scene Preservation
- Containment
- Equipment for a variety of situations on land or water
- Evidence and missing persons search