Sheriff’s Office Accepts $60,000 Grant for New Search and Rescue Team

SIERRA COUNTY — On Tuesday, the Sierra County Board of Supervisors authorized the Sheriff’s Office to accept a $60,000 grant from the charitable organization Direct Relief. The humanitarian aid group pursues a global mission of equipping health professionals in resource-poor communities to meet the challenges of diagnosing and caring for people in need. Within the United States, Direct Relief has worked to increase access to medicine and strengthen health safety nets.

Sierra County Sheriff Mike Fisher explained that the grant application to Direct Relief proposed creating a 10-member volunteer Hasty Search and Rescue team. A hasty team offers quick deployment for initial responses in emergencies. Fisher noted the new unit would “provide rapid, effective emergency response across Sierra County’s rugged and remote terrain.” The group promises to dramatically decrease response times, as the county currently relies on mutual aid from neighboring areas. Fisher added that he has worked for over a year to establish such a team, but training requirements exceeded the county’s budget. He hopes the funding will provide state-of-the-art equipment and cover training costs, thereby improving volunteer retention and sustaining a long-term, locally based rescue unit.

The grant will purchase essential search and rescue gear, including backpacks, winter clothing, first-aid supplies, GPS units, ice tools, portable lighting, and technical rescue equipment such as ropes and harnesses. Funds will also support advanced training for team members in areas such as swiftwater rescue, high-angle rescue, extreme winter operations, and advanced wilderness first aid. In addition, the money will reimburse volunteers for travel expenses during required trainings held outside the county.

Originally, a large portion of the funding was allocated to the purchase of handheld radios. However, the Truckee Police Department recently switched to new radios after Nevada County standards changed, and its police chief agreed to donate the old models to the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office. The donated radios will outfit the search and rescue team, replace patrol deputy radios, equip an emergency evacuation team now being assembled, and support other county teams and personnel.

Although the Sierra County Board approved accepting the funding, Sheriff Fisher plans to return to the board for approval before any spending occurs. Officials have not yet established a specific budget. Board members expressed strong support for Fisher’s efforts to secure supplemental funding beyond the county’s regular budget. Supervisor Lee Adams mentioned that he knew of at least one official in another county who was “envious” of the Sheriff’s ability to secure Direct Relief funding for Sierra County.