![arthur-poulin-NhU0nUR7920-unsplash_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/75494b_07954f947a1e45e8ae986012fa6375ec~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_878,h_584,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/75494b_07954f947a1e45e8ae986012fa6375ec~mv2.jpg)
WHO
WE ARE
We are you; members of the Spokane area community. At some point, each one of our SAR volunteers had a catalyst in their lives to join our team, start saving lives and provide closure to loved ones. We call it our "why". It gets us out of bed at 1 in the morning on a windy rain and snow mixed night, and it keeps us going on day 6 over torturous terrain.
SAR
Teams
Members of all teams seen below must first complete the Spokane SAR Academy which is held annually at the Spokane County Sherrif's Training Center.
Ground Team
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c0cf48_744ed2920aa34958afc5f22e87fd4682~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_275,h_206,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/c0cf48_744ed2920aa34958afc5f22e87fd4682~mv2.jpg)
A search and rescue (SAR) ground team plays a vital role in finding, assisting, and recovering individuals who have become lost, injured, or are in danger in remote or difficult-to-access locations. This can include wilderness, urban, or disaster environments.
​
K9 Team
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c0cf48_1978113cc43c46259af809e301b77a73~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_275,h_206,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/c0cf48_1978113cc43c46259af809e301b77a73~mv2.jpg)
A specialty division of the SAR team comprised of K9’s and their handlers as well as navigators that support the K9 search effort. The K9 team is dedicated to locating lost persons in the community and surrounding areas. Another important aspect is assisting law enforcement in searching for deceased individuals on land and in bodies of water.
The K9’s and handlers are specifically trained and must be certified in their respective discipline to deploy on searches.
MRA Team
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c0cf48_2d5773c2d88e40e4b52afa4b0ccf4974~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_275,h_206,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/c0cf48_2d5773c2d88e40e4b52afa4b0ccf4974~mv2.jpg)
Mountain rescue, also known as wilderness search and rescue, and vertical search and rescue (sometimes called technical rope rescue) are specialized forms of emergency response.
These teams are trained to locate, stabilize, and extract people who are lost or in danger in the most challenging environments.
​
​