Chaffee Co Search & Rescue-North Drone Purchase

We are raising funds to purchase of a highly capable unmanned aerial vehicle (drone). Drones are now standard equipment for SAR teams. Our current drone is ~5 years old, and drone technology has advanced significantly in that time. We use drones on many missions searching for missing individuals because they can search large areas efficiently. We have used them to search for missing subjects in the mountains, along the Arkansas River, and even in town looking for a wandering dementia patient. The new drone would have significantly enhanced visual and thermal detection capabilities. Thermal imaging can detect an unconscious or difficult to see subject. If needed drones can provide scene illumination, voice communication or even drop a small item like a two-way radio. 

Chaffee County Search and Rescue-North (CCSAR-N) has been in existence since 1964.  We provide backcountry search and rescue (SAR) services for the northern 2/3 of Chaffee County, which has ten 14,000' mountains. Chaffee County has more 14ers than any other county in the lower 48 and ~700 square miles of public lands.   We provide swiftwater rescue for the upper Arkansas, the most boated section of river in the state with the highest number of SAR incidents. We are a non-profit that is part of the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office. We depend completely on contributions, grants and fundraisers to support our efforts. Our organization is all volunteer with ~60 members and have ~50 missions a year. We have never charged and never will charge for our services.  

We transport patients by various means (rescue sled behind snowmobile or ATV, carried litter, boat, horse, SUV, snow cat, hike out) to front country ambulances or to air ambulance landing zones.  We have missions involving hikers, climbers, skiers, snowshoers, mountain bikers, dirt bikers, ATVers, Jeepers, snowmobilers, horseback riders, downed aircraft, kayakers and rafters. Drones with thermal imaging and visual cameras are used in many of our search missions. We also have an educational outreach to the community to help people recreate safely in the backcountry. We occasionally assist with animal rescues.

Rescue of Bailey, a 100 lb German Shepherd, on Mt Hope

Helicopter rescue on Ellingwood Ridge on LaPlata Peak