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Yamhill County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team

Finding and rescuing lost people!

Day or night, rain or shine, Yamhill County Search and Rescue is ready to save lives.

In an emergency, call 911Someone lost or missing? Call 911 immediately — the Sheriff’s Office dispatches Search and Rescue.
Five YCSAR volunteers in orange search gear at a mission command vehicle
Search in Forest Grove, Oct 2025
Our Mission

Volunteers trained to save lives

The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team recruits and trains volunteers to locate and rescue lost persons, respond to disasters, and educate the public on safety and survival.

The Yamhill County Search and Rescue Team is a part of the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. We are members of the community who have joined together to serve the people of Yamhill County and beyond. The team responds to the call for action, both in Yamhill County and the Pacific Northwest.

YCSAR team members in the field
Our Services

What we do

We provide quick and effective search and rescue operations, disaster response, and community education on safety and survival.

Search & rescue

Searching for and rescuing lost people in any weather conditions.

Reuniting families

Finding, and returning to their loved ones, persons with cognitive disorders.

Disaster response

Assisting in disasters (i.e. floods, airplane crashes, earthquakes, etc.)

Evidence searches

Assisting Law Enforcement with evidence searches.

In addition to our search and rescue missions, we have a mission of preventative search and rescue. The majority of our searches are in Yamhill County, but through our mutual aid agreements, we do respond to requests from other agencies to assist them with searches in their counties.

Project Lifesaver

A safety net for our most vulnerable neighbors

Each client is provided a small electronic bracelet that emits a unique radio signal 24 hours a day. Specially trained teams use it to quickly locate and return wandering adults and children with Alzheimer’s, autism or other disorders to their family and caregivers.

24 hrssignal, day or night
1 miledetection on the ground
5–6 midetection from the air
Learn about Project Lifesaver

How it works

  1. When a client wanders, a call to 911 by the caregiver triggers a rapid response by a trained team.
  2. Using a mobile locator system, search crews monitor the transmitter signal and locate the client.
  3. Team members know how to approach the person, gain their trust and put them at ease for the trip home.

Free of charge. Yamhill County Project Lifesaver provides our clients the equipment, battery replacements, and all services completely free of charge.

Volunteer with Us

Add your interests to ours

Being a part of Yamhill County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team is a way you can give back to the community. We are always looking for dedicated community members who have an interest in:

  • Outdoors
  • Hiking
  • Map & compass navigation
  • ATVs
  • Mountain biking
  • Ham radio
  • Medical training
  • K-9 search and rescue
  • Kayaking
  • Tracking
  • Horseback riding
  • Helping the community
YCSAR members during training

Come to a meeting

Third Thursday of the month, 7 pm — McMinnville Fire District Station 15, 3850 NE 3 Mile Ln, McMinnville. Adults 18+; youth members 15–18.

Photos

In the field

See all photos on Facebook
SAREX training exercise, May 2025 Night operations Thermal search drone Team members in the field Team photographed from the drone