Welcome to Lake County Search and Rescue, a dedicated team of volunteers committed to serving our community under the direction of the Sheriff's Office. Nestled in the heart of Lake County, Montana, we are a vital resource, providing assistance to citizens in need and responding to mutual aid requests across our region.

​

Our Mission

Our mission is simple yet profound: to save lives. We are driven by a deep sense of duty and compassion for our fellow citizens. Whether it's a lost hiker in the wilderness, a stranded boater on the lake, or a victim of a natural disaster, we stand ready to respond swiftly and effectively.

​

Volunteer Spirit

At Lake County Search and Rescue, we are proud to be an all-volunteer organization. Our members come from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to service. Each volunteer brings unique skills and expertise, contributing to our collective strength.
Leadership & Mentorship
Lake County Search and Recue is composed of a President, three Board of Directors, a Secretary and a Treasurer who oversees daily operations and the Membership....
Community Relations
Would you like to support your local SAR team? Click below to access our secure payment options. Your donation go directly assist us in serving....
Join theTeam
As an organization, we are always looking for motivated and dedicated volunteers. If you've got an interest in SAR, follow the link below to learn...
Read more...        

The History

 

Lake County Search and Rescue was founded in 1970 by Bill Phelps, recognizing a need for having trained emergency response personnel available in the event of lost person incidents. The volunteers of the unit were trained in navigation and medical response to help aid lost persons back to safety.

 

The mission statement of Lake County SAR: Lake County Search and Rescue is dedicated to providing professional ground, air, and water search, and rescue support based on our education, training and capabilities to the Sheriff's Office and the citizens of Lake County. Our goal is to find and/or locate, render aid, and provide quality professional and expedient services to the citizens of Lake County and other surrounding counties who are in distress or need of help, making sure to minimize the injury, damage of property, and loss of life. We are there to help educate the community to minimize risks that pertain to being lost, and to help provide professional body recovery services as needed. "Lost and Then Found" is our motto that we live by each and every time we are called upon by the Sheriff's Office.

OUR TEAMS
High Angle Rescue Team
High angle / low angle, our rope rescue technicians are trained to operate in many different environments. From the backcountry to the roadside, we are trained and ready to assist.
Horse Team
Our horse team provides assistance in the backcountry and other inaccessible locations. Providing long-ranging search efforts, our horse posse also supports other SAR operations by packing equipment and gear to SAR members and support personel.
Boats
The boat team operates primarily on Flathead Lake. Our equipment consists of two boats of varying capabilities. We help lake goers who become stranded or distressed. Other missions have included fire evacuations, search efforts, and recovery.
Mechanized
Using our ATV's and snowmobiles, we are able to operate in prohibitive environments. Our skilled operators can access many types of terrain to support a wide variety of missions.
Incident Command
The hub of all SAR operations, our incident command team coordinates our efforts on every call. Lost persons behavior, search techniques, and command and control.
Swiftwater
Using our specially built rescue rafts, we mainly work on the flathead river. We assist fishermen, rafters, and other river recreators.
Tracking
Our team of trackers are certified through the Joel Hardin School of tracking, making them among the highest qualified in the country. Using tracking techniques, they are able to establish age of sign, direction of travel, and other key information pertinent to the search.
Communications
Many of our operations happen in environments where there is limited cell service and line of sight, meaning that our communications team must adapt and overcome to provide clear and consistent communication between searchers and IC.

Copyright © lcmtsar.org 2025

Print the application and bring it by a SAR meeting Thursdays at 7:00pm.  Meet some of the team members and see our facilities and equipment. 

You will need to pay a $10.00 application fee.  This fee is used to cover the background investigation conducted by Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 

Once your application and fee are submitted you may start attending regular meetings and trainings; however only team members are permitted on mission call outs. 
Once your background investigation is cleared; you will be invited to a formal interview with the SAR board of directors. 

Completion of the background and interview is only the beginning for new SAR members.  The more you participate in meetings and trainings, the more you will learn the greater benefit you will be to the team, Lake County, and the State of Montana. 

Bring your unique skills or let SAR train you for general membership and one or more of our specialty teams.