About the Team

San Mateo County SAR

The San Mateo County Search and Rescue (SMCSAR) team is a professional, all-volunteer unit within the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Bureau. 

Our team of more than 60 operational members contributes over 16,000 total service hours each year in support of search, rescue, and emergency response operations across California. From rugged coastal cliffs and dense redwood forests to city streets and residential neighborhoods, SMCSAR provides a critical capability to local law enforcement, fire agencies, and emergency management operations.

Our members undergo extensive training in a wide range of technical disciplines, including land navigation, medical response, rope rescue, search management, K9 operations, and communications. This specialized training ensures we’re ready to respond to any situation, day or night, in all weather conditions, and often with little notice. 

In addition to search and rescue missions, our volunteers promote public safety during severe winter storms, wildfire evacuations, and major community events such as the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival and Dream Machines. Every operation requires a high degree of teamwork and technical expertise — qualities our volunteers hone through field exercises and joint training with local and regional response partners.

SMCSAR has a long history of service and community involvement, built on the dedication of ordinary citizens who choose to answer extraordinary calls. Our team has played key roles in major regional incidents, including the CZU Lightning Complex Fires in 2020, and regularly supports neighboring counties through mutual aid requests. 

While our volunteers come from all walks of life, they share a common purpose: to save lives and serve our community when it matters most