Updated 30 June 2008
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Douglas County Search and Rescue
Team
Information
For search and rescue emergencies call 911 or the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at 303-660-7500
Member of the Mountain Rescue Association
**There will be a meeting for those interested in joining the team on July 22, 2008 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. More information about the meeting here.**
Membership is open to anyone over 18 years old with an interest in the outdoors and helping others. Previous search and rescue or emergency services experience is not required, but new members are expected to know basic camping, hiking, survival and other outdoor skills. All members (new and regular) must provide their own outdoor clothing and personal equipment. The team provides no personal equipment, but team members receive discounts on purchases at a number of outdoor retailers.
Members must live within 30 minutes of normal driving time of Douglas County.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office performs background and DMV checks on all applicants. The sheriff's office reserves the right to deny membership to applicants.
There is a non-refundable (unless denied membership) application fee which, among other things, pays for a books and insurance for each new member. The team does not charge monthly or annual dues.
There are minimum attendance requirements for both new and regular members, at both trainings and on callouts (regular members only). Failure to meet minimum attendance results in loss of field status (available for missions) and possible dismissal from the team.
DCSAR currently has 35 field qualified members from all parts of Douglas and the surrounding counties, coming from all walks of life and professions. Search and rescue experience ranges from 40 years to none prior to joining the team.
Address:
Douglas County Search and Rescue Team, Inc.
PO Box 1102
Castle Rock, CO 80104
http://www.dcsarco.org
The team is a member of the Mountain Rescue Association, Douglas County Fire Chiefs' Association and the Colorado Search and Rescue Board.
The team holds classroom training on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, usually at the Highlands Ranch Law Enforcement Training Facility near Louviers. Field training is held the Saturday or Sunday following the classroom training. The field trainings are held at different locations around the county to familiarize members with the county and to practice skills in different terrain and environments.
Topics include map, compass and GPS use; climbing, rappelling, use of rescue equipment, low and high angle rescue; patient evaluation, packaging and handling, wilderness medical considerations; search theory, strategy and tactics; tracking; and winter operations.
All team members must be certified at some level of first aid beyond basic first aid. First aid and medical certification classes are held independently of other team training.
Equipment and
Facilities
To get started, DCSAR was loaned rescue equipment from members, other agencies
and teams, notably El Paso County Search
and Rescue. Since then the team has received grants and donations
of services, money and equipment from:
The general public
People who have been found or rescued by the team.
Local businesses
Team members
A charity golf tournament at The Sanctuary Golf Course.
Chatfield-River-Canyon-Roxborough Triathlon
Microsoft
Boeing Employees Community Fund
Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) has provided grant money as well as discounts on equipment.
Metro District of Highlands Ranch donated an ambulance which serves as one of the team's mobile command posts.
Larkspur Fire Department donated two ambulances, both of which served as the team's mobile command posts.
Castle Rock Fire Department donated an ambulance (the twin to one donated by Larkspur), which also served as a mobile command post.
Douglas County Road and Bridge Department, through the Douglas County Commissioners, donated two 4-wheel drive pickups.
Douglas County Emergency Medical Services has provided grant money for medical equipment.
State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs has provided grant money from the Colorado SAR Fund for equipment and training.
Douglas County Sheriff's Office
Douglas County Commissioners
These donations, whether large or small, are greatly appreciated by DCSAR, and we thank all donors.
The team is a non-profit charitable organization under section 501(c)3 of the IRS code, so all donations are tax-deductible.
The team does not have a facility of its own, so records and equipment are stored at the homes and offices of its members.
Officers and
Committees
Board of Directors and
Officers
President - Bruce Fosdick
Vice-President - David Farrar
Secretary - Bill Clendenning
Treasurer - Mike McDonald
Director-at-large - Jesse Adamy
Field Director - Scott Walker
Sheriff's Liaison - Lt. Larry Noble
It is the policy of DCSAR and the Douglas County Sheriff not to charge for search and rescue.
Standing Committees
Budget and Finance - Bruce Fosdick
Communications - Andy Koncsik
Equipment - Bill Clendenning
Medical - Greg Epp
PSAR (preventative search and rescue)- Bill Clendenning
Policies and Standards - Bruce Fosdick
Training - Bill Clendenning
Vehicle - Scott Walker
Response
Area
Primary area of responsibility: Douglas County, Colorado, which is located
near the center of the state.
Terrain in the county ranges from the plains in the east to 9,836 foot high Thunder Butte in the southwest corner. Just eighty-eight feet lower, Devil's Head, with its lookout station on top, is the county landmark. In addition to a National Recreation Trail, there are technical rock climbing areas on Devil's Head. It is located in the heart of the recreational area on the Rampart Range in Pike National Forest.
This area of the forest, contained within the South Platte Ranger District, is a designated off-highway vehicle (OHV) area and is cris-crossed with over one hundred miles of trails. These trails are shared by all-terrain vehicles (ATV), off-road motorcycles (dirt bikes), and some hikers. North of the OHV area are trails closed to motorized vehicles, and these are used by hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers. Hunters use both areas during the various Colorado hunting seasons. There are a number of Forest Service campgrounds and picnic areas along Rampart Range, and many more primitive campsites, most accessible by vehicle. The southern part of this area is in the Pikes Peak Ranger District.
There are three state parks within the county:
Castlewood Canyon Day use, with hiking trails and technical rock climbing areas.
Roxborough. Day use, with hiking trails that connect to Pike National Forest. No rock climbing is allowed in the park.
Chatfield. Overnight camping is allowed. Swimming, boating and fishing are the primary activities.
Douglas County Open Space and Recreation maintains over 40,000 acres of open space and parks.
The South Platte River forms the western boundary of the county. The river is best known for its trout fishing, though sections of it are used by kayakers.
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Please send comments and suggestions to the Team at dcsarco@comcast.net
Page last updated 30 June 2008