Help support the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team by ordering prints through this gallery. All profits will be donated to the team.
The Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue (SCVSAR) Helicopter Rescue Team (HRT) is an “all hazard” response team that conducts more than 80 missions per year throughout the state of Washington.
They respond to emergency situations when the nature of the injury or terrain requires extraction by air. They bring life-saving equipment, rescue personnel and paramedics directly to patients to help reduce disability and improve their chances for survival.
Helicopters have been an integral part of Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue program since our first was acquired in 1977. Over the years, a Helicopter Rescue Team (HRT) made up primarily of volunteers, was developed and has proven vital to the many successful Search and Rescue missions. HRT resources include:
Although some positions are filled by Sheriff Deputies, the majority of the positions on our team are filled by volunteers. These volunteers purchase most of their own equipment and often pay for their own specialized training in addition to donating a great deal of their own time. They are incredibly dedicated to their job and upholding the motto: “so that others may live”.
HRT, on average, responds to more than 80 calls per year. Though the majority are within Snohomish County, the team also provides assistance for out-of-county emergencies. Calls vary from missing children, lost Alzheimer’s patients, overdue hikers and rafters, persons trapped by flood waters, and injured climbers and skiers. The terrain varies widely from urban areas to the most remote sections of the rugged Cascade Mountains.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Rescue Helicopter operates under Federal Public Aircraft Rules and therefore cannot charge for services. The aircraft operations and Search and Rescue program are funded through Snohomish County and current funding is extremely limited. Donations to the program are gladly accepted.
The Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue (SCVSAR) Helicopter Rescue Team (HRT) is an “all hazard” response team that conducts more than 80 missions per year throughout the state of Washington.
They respond to emergency situations when the nature of the injury or terrain requires extraction by air. They bring life-saving equipment, rescue personnel and paramedics directly to patients to help reduce disability and improve their chances for survival.
Helicopters have been an integral part of Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue program since our first was acquired in 1977. Over the years, a Helicopter Rescue Team (HRT) made up primarily of volunteers, was developed and has proven vital to the many successful Search and Rescue missions. HRT resources include:
- Pilots
- Crew Chiefs
- Helicopter Rescue Technicians
- Flight Medics/Paramedics
- Ground Support
Although some positions are filled by Sheriff Deputies, the majority of the positions on our team are filled by volunteers. These volunteers purchase most of their own equipment and often pay for their own specialized training in addition to donating a great deal of their own time. They are incredibly dedicated to their job and upholding the motto: “so that others may live”.
HRT, on average, responds to more than 80 calls per year. Though the majority are within Snohomish County, the team also provides assistance for out-of-county emergencies. Calls vary from missing children, lost Alzheimer’s patients, overdue hikers and rafters, persons trapped by flood waters, and injured climbers and skiers. The terrain varies widely from urban areas to the most remote sections of the rugged Cascade Mountains.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Rescue Helicopter operates under Federal Public Aircraft Rules and therefore cannot charge for services. The aircraft operations and Search and Rescue program are funded through Snohomish County and current funding is extremely limited. Donations to the program are gladly accepted.
© Fight to Fly Photography - Jason R. Fortenbacher