Life-threatening emergency? Call 911. The team is activated through the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Santa Clarita ValleySearch & Rescue Team
LASD · SCV Sheriff's Station · Est. 1957

When someone's lost out there, we go get them.

A volunteer team of reserve deputies and civilian EMTs, on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for lost hikers, vehicles over the side, swift water, disasters and missing people across the Santa Clarita Valley.

Support the team Become a volunteer
Rope rescue training at dusk
1957
Serving the valley since
74
Callouts in 2026
3,216
Volunteer hours in 2026
24/7/365
Ready to respond
100%
Of members are EMTs
What we do

Rugged terrain. Any hour. Any weather.

We work under the direction of the SCV Sheriff's Station and answer mutual-aid requests from teams across Los Angeles County and the state.

Lost & overdue hikers

Ground searches through the Angeles National Forest and the canyons around the valley.

Vehicles over the side

High-angle rope systems to reach, treat and raise patients from steep embankments.

Swift-water rescue

Trained rescuers for fast-moving water when storms fill the valley's rivers and washes.

Missing persons

Searches for people of all ages, including evidence recovery in challenging terrain.

Earthquakes & disasters

Support during earthquakes, fires, floods and extended power outages.

Mutual aid

Deploying alongside the other Sheriff's SAR teams wherever our skills are needed.

On call around the clock

Recent missions

Our volunteers answered 89 calls in the last 12 months, about 2 a week, day or night, in every kind of weather.

Calls by type · last 12 months
  • Searches & rescues30
  • Medical aid24
  • Vehicle rescues14
  • Fire & evacuations8
  • Swift water4
  • Mutual aid2
  • Other assists7

Latest callouts

  1. Oct 16, 20262:04 PMMissing Person SearchBouquet CanyonResolved
  2. Oct 15, 20268:47 AM904B Brush FireSanta ClaritaResolved
  3. Oct 11, 20262:38 PMMedical AssistSanta ClaritaResolved
  4. Oct 11, 20261:53 PM904B Brush FireSanta ClaritaResolved
  5. Oct 10, 20269:09 PMHiker RescueSanta ClaritaResolved
Team members beside a rope rescue tripod at sunset
100% donor supported

No government budget. Just this community.

The team receives no regular government funding. Every rope, harness, piece of rigging equipment and medical kit is paid for by people in this community. Reserve deputies are paid $1 a year, and civilian members volunteer for free.

  • Rescue gear

    Ropes, harnesses, rigging, litters

  • Medical

    Kits and restocking after every call

  • Training

    EMT and mountain rescue certification

Donate nowOther ways to give
Who we are

School teachers, contractors, film directors and rocket scientists.

Our members come from every walk of life. Despite demanding day jobs, they train together as one unit and drop everything when the pager goes off. Every member is an Emergency Medical Technician and recertifies each year with the Mountain Rescue Association.

Our history since 1957
Team members kneeling together in deep snow
Two rescuers on a rope system, one giving a thumbs up
A rescuer hoisted beneath a Sheriff's helicopter
A rescuer rigging a litter on a steep embankment

Upcoming events

All events

No public events are scheduled right now. Check back soon, or see past community events.

Before you hike

Tell someone your plan. Carry more water than you think.

Simple preparation keeps most hikes from turning into a search. Read our trail safety guide and the Ten Essentials before heading into the local mountains.

Trail safety guide

Do you have what it takes?

We're looking for people who can stay calm, keep training and answer the call at 3 a.m. Join as a Reserve Deputy or a civilian volunteer.

Start your application