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Grand County Search and Rescue marks 40 years, warns of staffing limits; requests grant support for equipment
Summary
Grand County Search and Rescue reported 67 active members, 69 missions and eight lives saved in 2024, described growing workload from national-park and river incidents, and asked the county to support pursuit of congressional or discretionary funding for capital equipment and storage needs.
Grand County Search and Rescue updated the Board of County Commissioners on March 18 about operations, staffing and funding needs as it marks its 40th anniversary as an accredited team. The team reported 67 operational members, about 1,169 volunteer hours on 69 missions in 2024 and eight rescues described as lives saved.
Team leaders described varied mission types in 2024 — technical rescues, high-country carryouts, an avalanche rescue with a live recovery, and a major recovery that required calling a helicopter from Jackson County, Wyoming. The team said it maintains three bases in the county (Fraser, Willow Creek/Bud Wilson and Kremmling) and coordinates with the sheriff, fire departments, EMS, Bureau of Land Management and Rocky Mountain National Park rangers.
Presenters warned that federal partner staffing shortfalls this year — including a likely reduction in Rocky Mountain National Park seasonal rangers and uncertainty about BLM river-ranger staffing — could shift additional rescue workload to the county team, notably for Upper Colorado River swift-water incidents that require specialized water crews. The team said building local swift-water capability would take years and significant funding.
Search and Rescue requested the board’s support to pursue congressional-directed discretionary spending (CDS) or similar funding sources to replace aging capital equipment and vehicles, and asked the county to authorize the sheriff and team to apply for such funding. Commissioners instructed staff to support a CDS application if appropriate and to provide any required letters or administrative sign-offs.
The team also asked for help finding permanent, secure space for equipment storage on the East side of the county (Fraser area) and discussed operational needs on the Kremmling/20 Victor airfield. Commissioners thanked the team for its work and asked staff to stay in close coordination.
Ending: Commissioners signaled support for Search and Rescue’s request to pursue discretionary funding and asked staff and the sheriff to assist with grant applications and facility planning.
