By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• Search and Rescue of Mineral County in Montana marked its first anniversary since forming in January 2025 to provide coordinated rescue services.
• The all-volunteer organization operates under a memorandum of understanding with the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office.
• Team members provide search, stabilization and evacuation support for residents and outdoor recreation visitors.
• The unit has responded to mutual-aid requests and worked closely with fire, EMS and law enforcement agencies.
MINERAL COUNTY, MT — Search and Rescue of Mineral County commemorated its first year of operations this month, a milestone for the volunteer organization that provides coordinated rescue services for residents and visitors in western Montana.
Established in January 2025 through a memorandum of understanding with the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, the team operates under the sheriff’s supervision to locate, stabilize and evacuate people in distress, officials said.
The unit is staffed entirely by volunteers and funded through limited grants and donations, with many members using personal equipment and vehicles for training and missions, according to department leaders.
During its first year, the team has responded to incidents both within the county and via mutual aid, including a rescue of an injured snowmobiler alongside agencies such as the West End Fire Department and Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office in Idaho.
The organization continues to seek additional volunteers, operating funds and facilities to support equipment storage and reduce response times, officials said.