Nevada County Sheriff's Search & Rescue

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At approximately midnight Search and Rescue was requested for two overdue UTV’s with four people that had left the town of Washington sometime early Sunday morning. Upon receiving initial reports it was quickly determined that our search area would consist of two counties and approximately 214 square miles. A huge thank you to the following agencies that answered our call for mutual aid- Placer County Sheriffs office, Tahoe Nordic, Sierra County Sheriff, Nevada Irrigation... District, El Dorado County SAR, Butte County SAR, California Highway Patrol Air Ops, Mono County SAR, Washington Fire , SNMH Ambulance and Richie and Jane Schluter for the assist in this needle-in-a-haystack search. At approximately 10am one our teams located the four subjects. These subjects survived a good storm that dropped approximately 18-24 of snow in a very short period of time. They did one thing correct and that was that they left a family member with a GPX file with the route they had planned on taking; that decision most certainly saved four lives today. Please please please let someone know where you are going, what route you will be taking and when you plan on returning... it just might save your life!

March is one of our 6 required monthly trainings. Today’s training was to practice carry outs along the Yuba River at Bridgeport. Our team showed up in force with 70 members eager to enjoy an absolutely beautiful day of training along the river. Our Incident Command team also utilized our new Sat Runner and put it to the test in the bottom of the canyon. We were vary pleased with its performance allowing our IC Team to live track all of our field teams and provide internet ...and Verizon cell coverage within our 2 mile search area. Great dedication and skills today. Awesome job team!!!

March madness continues. SAR Teams have been busy this month, Year to date SAR has successfully completed 19 missions and supported 4 mutual aids to other agencies. This months highlights were the rescue of a dog that had fallen off a cliff into the river and was clinging to the rivers edge, dementia walk always, multiple stranded motorists traveling in the snow and becoming stranded and supporting Sierra County with a missing person. Lastly we continue to train to keep our skill sharp. Please be safe in your outdoor activities, tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return.

We’ve been silent lately not because we didn’t want to post but because it’s been a busy month. So far this month we have run 9 calls for service which include mutual aid calls to both Yuba County and Sierra County, a Dive Team call out, and multiple rescues in the snow. We were fortunate to receive some great donations over the last couple of months from Miwall INC and Nevada City Masonic Lodge 13 which greatly helped us to purchase, a new to us, Rescue Unit 4. Here are some photos of this last months adventures, although the day is not over so we may have more to show you later on tonight.

Please keep in mind weather forecasts and avalanche conditions when heading into the backcountry. This was us last winter conducting a mission to rescue an individual who ventured out backcountry skiing in extremely dangerous avalanche conditions, and got trapped between slides. Know before you go, for it is not only your life you are endangering.

This last weekend, members of the NCSSAR Ropes Team followed up on a backcountry legend circulating around the northern California mountain biking community. Rumor had it, this past fall a rider crashed on one of the high profile trails in the Lost Sierra near Downieville. They had to leave their high dollar e-bike behind, but was able to finally self-rescue later on. According to this rumor, the bike was never found. Months go by, and the wife of a NCSSAR member just hap...Continue reading

Due to the very poor air quality today and our wishes to not endanger the public nor our members, we are postponing our Fundraiser at least until November. We hope you can come out and see us then. In the meantime, if you wish to donate, visit our web page at NevadaCountySAR.org and click on the donate button. Thanks for your understanding and support.

River canyons and mountainous terrain in the remote regions of Nevada County make communication difficult in an emergency. We are excited to share newly acquired technology that will help our law enforcement, Search and Rescue team, and fire personnel communicate in the most disconnected stretches of the county. Check out this video to learn more about this device known as the SatRunner and how it assists in keeping us #ReadyNevadaCounty.

We're sorry to inform you that due the changes in the COVID directions, we are cancelling this years fundraiser scheduled for tomorrow at the local shopping areas in western Nevada County. Our needs are still there and we hope you will take the time to visit our website at NevadaCountySAR.org and click on the donate button with your generous donation. We hope to try again next year. Thank you for all of your past support and enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Hopefully the 3rd time is the charm. We have scheduled our annual fundraiser for the western part of the county on Saturday, November 21st from 9 to 5. We'll be at most shopping areas in Nevada City, Grass Valley, Lake Wildwood and Higgens Corner. Rain or shine our members will be out along with their K9 partners to accept your donations and thank you for your support. We will have COVID Protocols in place during the event. After the cancellation earlier due to poor air quali...ty, several donations were received through our Web page and we want to thank all of you for your support. Again, if your unable to attend, you can visit our web page at NevadaCountySar.org and click on the donate button to help support the team. Thank you all in advance and hope to see you on Saturday, the 21st. See more

Sierra County Sheriff's Office PRESS RELEASE On November 1, 2020, at approximately 3:45 pm, the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a mountain biker over the hillside on the Pauley Creek/Butcher Ranch Mountain Bike Trail East of Downieville, California. The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office, along with Downieville and Sierra City Fire Departments, responded to the remote mountainous trail and attempted to locate the mountain biker. The California Highway Patro...l helicopter was requested and responded to assist in the search. Due to the area’s remote and steepness, searchers could not reach the biker, and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Ropes and Motorcycle Teams responded to assist. At approximately 3:00am, the missing mountain biker was located, but due to the steep mountain cliffs, rescuers could not reach him. Despite their best efforts, Nevada County Search and Rescue had to suspend the rescue for the night. At first light, a Blackhawk rescue helicopter from the Naval Station Fallon responded to assist. In addition to the rescue helicopter, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office Ropes Team responded to assist in reaching the subject. At approximately 9:30am, team members with the rescue helicopter were able to reach the subject and hoist him into the helicopter. Unfortunately, Alejandro Lugo of Florida had succumbed to his injuries. The Sierra County Sheriff’a Office would like to thank all of the agencies involved with the search and our sincere condolences to Mr. Lugo’s family and friends. In response to Sierra County Sheriff’s Office mutual aid request, our Ropes, Hasty and Motorcycle teams were deployed Sunday Evening in the search efforts. The Ropes teams were faced with over a 4 mile hike in on the technical Third Divide and Butch Ranch trails. Fortunately our motorcycle team was able to assist by carrying in some of the heavy ropes gear which helped accelerate the rescue attempt. With their mobility, the Moto teams were also able set up radio communication relays between the teams. After rigging up a high angle ropes system, one of our team members was lowered down a steep slope and off of the vertical cliff edge. The searcher was able to locate the missing subject, however, she was unable to get to him. Due to the high risk to our rescuers conducting a nighttime wilderness high angle technical rescue, and the observed condition of the subject, the rescue attempt was suspended until additional resources could be brought in at dawn. A special thanks to those team members who responded to the challenging mission and worked continuously throughout the night to come to the aid of Mr. Lugo. Our condolences go out to Mr. Lugo's family and friends.

In response to Sierra County Sheriff’s Office mutual aid request, our Ropes, Hasty and Motorcycle teams were deployed Sunday evening in the search efforts. The Ropes teams were faced with over a 4 mile hike in on the technical Third Divide and Butch Ranch trails. Fortunately our motorcycle team was able to assist by carrying in some of the heavy ropes gear which helped accelerate the rescue attempt. With their mobility, the Moto teams were also able set up radio communicatio...n relays between the teams. After rigging up a high angle ropes system, one of our team members was lowered down a steep slope and off of the vertical cliff edge. The searcher was able to locate the missing subject, however, she was unable to get to him. Due to the high risk to our rescuers conducting a nighttime wilderness high angle technical rescue, and the observed condition of the subject, the rescue attempt was suspended until additional resources could be brought in at dawn. A special thanks to those team members who responded to the challenging mission and worked continuously throughout the night to come to the aid of Mr. Lugo. Our condolences go out to Mr. Lugo's family and friends.