Santa Barbara County Proclaims May 2025 as “Search and Rescue Month”
On May 20, 2025, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors officially proclaimed the month of May as Search and Rescue Month, honoring the exceptional service and sacrifice of the all-volunteer Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue (SBCSAR) team.
SBCSAR is an elite, all-volunteer unit operating under the direction of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Dispatched through the 911 system, the team responds to over 100 emergencies each year across diverse terrain—from technical rope rescues and swiftwater operations to helicopter-supported extractions, storm evacuations, and missing persons searches.
With more than 50 professionally trained volunteers, SBCSAR maintains expertise in K9 operations, UAV technology, alpine and snow rescues, mountain bike deployment, off-road recoveries, and disaster response. The team also provides vital safety education across Santa Barbara County, supporting schools, senior centers, and community groups.
Over the past five years, SBCSAR volunteers have donated more than 46,000 hours of mission response, training, and outreach.
The Santa Barbara Search and Rescue Foundation, established to support and sustain the team’s mission, provides long-term funding for gear, vehicles, training, and community education. The Foundation has no paid staff and operates with minimal overhead, ensuring every dollar directly supports the team’s lifesaving work.
During Tuesday’s proclamation ceremony at the County Administration Building, Sheriff Bill Brown delivered remarks honoring the team, followed by Foundation President John Van Donge, who spoke on behalf of the board and the Foundation’s fundraising efforts.
All rescue services are provided free of charge. The team is proud to serve Santa Barbara County and is committed to saving lives while building a safer, more prepared community.
To learn more or support the mission, visit: www.sbcsar.org and www.SBSARFoundation.com
Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue
Donate now!sbcsar.net
Development Chair: Bruce Hickey
(805) 319-1399
Mission
Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue is an all-volunteer team, serving law enforcement, fire rescue, and emergency services in Santa Barbara County and the surrounding counties by mutual aid request. As a public service, SBCSAR provides trained SAR members to search, locate and rescue lost, missing, or injured persons upon the request of any official agency. We are on call 24/7, 365 days a year and respond in all terrain and conditions.
Begin to Build a Relationship
We know you care about where your money goes and how it is used. Connect with this organization’s leadership in order to begin to build this important relationship. Your email will be sent directly to this organization’s director of development and/or Executive Director.
SBCSAR exemplifies the highest standards of skill, dedication, and teamwork. With over 50 years as a SAR volunteer and president of the Raintree Foundation, I am proud to support a team whose professionalism and commitment to saving lives are unmatched. SBCSAR’s ability to respond quickly and effectively, whether in rugged mountain terrain, swiftwater environments, or urban settings, reflects their exceptional training and community spirit. Their volunteers consistently go above and beyond, bringing hope and safety to those in crisis. I deeply respect the countless hours these men and women invest to ensure others return home safely. SBCSAR truly embodies the spirit of service, courage, and excellence.
Great Rescue Begins with Great Gear
Long before a volunteer ever steps onto a trail or into a rescue helicopter, they need the tools to do the job. Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue is recruiting its next class of volunteers, and each new member must personally invest thousands of dollars in specialized equipment before responding to emergencies. Certified climbing gear, technical ropes, helmets, rescue packs, protective clothing, and medical supplies all come at a cost. A donation of $5,000 helps outfit one volunteer who will become the next generation of rescuers, ensuring they have the equipment they need to answer every call safely and effectively.
Key Supporters
Wood Claeyssens Foundation
Direct Relief
Bragg Foundation
Santa Barbara Foundation
JM Lazarus Foundation
Hutton Parker Foundation