Washoe County Search and Rescue outlines rescue process, volunteer structure and safety tips

Sergeant Garrett Byrd and Deputy Nick Edes of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue unit described how the county responds to wilderness calls and invited residents to consider volunteering. The pair outlined the team’s incident‑management process, the role of volunteers and technology, and offered practical safety tips for people recreating in the county’s backcountry.

Byrd, who joined the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in 2014 after several years with the Nevada Highway Patrol, walked listeners through a typical call. He said 911 and text‑911 location data are used immediately to set up a conference with the incident management team, determine terrain, and page only the specialized teams needed rather than the entire roster. "We have their location," he said, explaining that modern phone pings can narrow a search to a small area.

The unit maintains mapping tools on phones (Caltopo/Sartopo) so responding volunteers share real‑time location. Byrd said that method — combined with multiple phone pings — recently helped pinpoint a cyclist who became lost in early winter. "I am absolutely convinced that if we would not have found him that night, that he probably would have died up there from exposure," Byrd said.

Deputy Nick Edes described the unit’s composition: two commissioned Washoe County personnel support a larger volunteer organization that operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and relies on donations for uniforms and equipment. He said the unit regularly works with assigned paramedics from REMSA and that many volunteers have wilderness‑first‑aid training. "A lot of people that they rescue end up donating to them, and that's how they receive their money to help pay for uniforms [and] equipment," he said.

Byrd also described air operations under the Raven program, a HH‑1 “Huey” helicopter used for hoist rescues. He said some volunteers train monthly for daytime and nighttime hoist operations and that the program provides coverage across the region and, at times, into neighboring California counties.

On service policy, Byrd emphasized that Search and Rescue is a county service and the sheriff’s office does not bill for rescues: "We don't charge people for our services," he said, adding that this applies even to helicopter hoists.

Hosts asked for specific advice for recreational users. Edes recommended planning and basic gear: "Bring plenty of water, plenty of food," carry extra layers and a portable battery pack, tell someone the route you plan to take, and if you become lost, stop moving and call or text 911. Byrd and Edes named device and app options — Garmin inReach, AllTrails, Apple location sharing — and stressed that newer phones can send a text to 911 if voice calls fail.

Both speakers acknowledged rescues with no happy endings and the emotional toll of locating deceased people, but noted the service’s value in providing closure to families. They also urged visitors to consider altitude and conditioning before attempting steep hikes.

Looking to expand volunteer ranks, Byrd said the sheriff’s office is consolidating separate volunteer teams and will post updated application information on the sheriff’s office website under Special Operations in the coming weeks. Prospective volunteers can also call or email the contacts listed on that page to begin the recruitment process.

The Washoe County Search and Rescue team can be reached through the sheriff’s office Special Operations page for those seeking more information or wishing to apply.