Graduation for 13 new members of Douglas County Search and Rescue

New members were added to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team this week after completing a 48-hour academy where they were certified as a Nevada Wilderness Search and Rescue Technician (NWSRT), a nationally recognized credential.

The graduation for the 13 community members was held on April 17, 2018 in Minden, Nev.

The academy provids knowledge concerning the general responsibilities, skills, abilities and the equipment needed by persons who are assigned to field operations during a search and rescue mission. The course content includes topics in three major areas: survival/support, search and rescue.

The NWSRT course provided classroom and field sessions and students are required to take a 145 question written test and a field skill evaluation to complete the course.

DCSAR member Dan Hourihan was the instructor for the course and has a long background in SAR. He retired after 28 years as a ranger with the Alaska Division of Parks, was a training specialist for the Nevada Division of Emergency Management and is currently serving on the executive board for the International Commission for Alpine Rescue.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue is vital to our community, and the responsibility of the Search and Rescue team falls on the Sheriff. Sheriff Ron Pierini utilizes teams of citizen volunteers to conduct search and rescue missions. DCSAR is a nationally recognized team of SAR professionals.

In the month of December, DCSAR volunteers were involved in four rescue missions, which included hikers in distress, a missing person, a stranded off roader, and the use of the drone for an emergency situation. There were seven training sessions, two K-9 trainings and four incidents of public education. SAR members were utilized for 210 hours during the month. There is no charge for the search and rescue mission to the involved community member or visitor to the county due to the dedication of the members.

DCSAR members were utilized for eighteen hours during the Stateline underground explosion on April 1 for public safety.

Pictured Left to Right: DCSAR Director of Training Keith Rivinius; DCSO Captain Joe Duffy, Pierre DeForest (and son); Benjamin Johnson; Bianne Price; Shawna Hewson; Alison Wiggins; Brian Foerschler; Sarah Goulart; Travis Bethman; Kirsten Whitt; DCSO Captain Dan Coverley; Brandi Hickman; Sheriff Ron Pierini.

Not pictured: Keith Schafer; Susan Schafer; Jenifer Turner.