Cover photo by Cameron Torrens of Chaffee County SAR North
Backcountry search and rescue (BSAR) services in Colorado are provided free of charge to rescue subjects, including concerned family members and friends who may call to report a subject missing or injured in the backcountry. BSAR teams are staffed by volunteers who generously give their time to save lives, but that doesn’t mean there are no costs involved. The roughly 50 BSAR teams across the state, most of which are nonprofit organizations, have to fund their training, equipment, vehicle and building maintenance, and other operating expenses. They all do it differently, most through a combination of donations, grants, team fundraising activities and events, and state and/or local government funding. Sheriff’s offices also must expend resources to fulfill their responsibility to coordinate BSAR incidents, and these costs may be significant for lengthy incidents. And the Colorado Search and Rescue Association (CSAR) also has to fund its operating expenses in order to provide services to the teams, and we do so through donations, grants and fundraising events.
Donations and grants
Most teams receive support from generous individuals and businesses in their local communities. You can donate to them on their websites, or for some of them, through their Colorado Gives accounts. Some also seek funding through private foundation grants, although it can be difficult to find foundations whose funding priorities align with our specialized niche of services. CSAR solicits support on our website and our Colorado Gives page also, and seeks opportunities for corporate sponsorships and partnerships.
Fundraising events and activities
Many teams sponsor or participate in local fundraising events and activities. These range broadly and include things like pancake breakfasts, providing race support, putting out donation buckets at local community concerts and events, or asking for donations at public safety education events. Some teams partner with local businesses for sponsorship opportunities, point of sale “round up” programs, cross-marketing events, or anything else they find mutually beneficial. CSAR sponsors an annual Corporate Citizenship Award to recognize a business for outstanding support of BSAR in Colorado.
State and local government funding
Since the 1980s, a small surcharge on hunting, fishing licenses and OHV, snowmobile and boat registrations has gone into a BSAR Fund. There is also an option called the CORSAR card, which hikers can purchase to contribute to this fund. Many outdoor recreationists are aware these licenses and cards provide money to search and rescue teams, but often they are under the misconception that this is rescue insurance. The BSAR Fund is administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and is available for reimbursement of unexpected costs incurred on BSAR incidents, by both sheriffs and BSAR teams. It can also be used by BSAR teams for equipment and training expenses through an annual grant process. If you don’t already have a hunting, fishing or OHV license, buying a CORSAR card is a good thing to do and helps support rescue teams. But these funds are a drop in the bucket compared to the operational expenses of the teams.
In 2019, CSAR decided to tackle the problem and seek a more significant means of statewide funding to help BSAR teams. CSAR first approached sheriffs and then county commissioners for sustainable funding solutions, but we were directed to the state. Colorado state agencies and legislators partnered with CSAR to discuss the problem and together, they brainstormed possible solutions. These discussions eventually led to the passing of a bill that created the Keep Colorado Wild (KCW) pass. Colorado residents now may purchase a heavily discounted state parks pass with their vehicle registration every year, and the proceeds go to fund state parks, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, and the BSAR Fund. To date, KCW funds have provided more than $5M to the Colorado BSAR community. These funds are distributed through grants to Colorado county sheriffs to support the BSAR organizations and volunteer responders in their counties.
Ironically, however, CSAR has not been able to access the KCW funds nor the license/CORSAR fees for our own operational expenses. We are forced to spend a great deal of time and energy seeking private donations, foundation grants and fundraising activities.
Lastly, some teams receive funding from local government sources, such as their sheriff’s office or county budgets. Usually, this is a small amount of support compared to their overall operational expenses.
Why not charge the rescue subjects?
SAR responders are often asked why BSAR teams don’t charge people they help for services. Many teams have expressed frustration that their members must take time for fundraising events or self-fund their costs on top of their rescue responsibilities. So why not charge? This is often a topic for discussion within the BSAR community. There are many reasons not to charge, including federal policy and precedent, other emergency services organizations’ precedent, and the fact that subjects who fear being charged often delay calling, possibly to the detriment of their safety and the safety of the volunteers. You can take a deeper dive on this topic here.
What about helicopters?
Using helicopters to assist with BSAR incidents can provide faster response in Colorado’s remote backcountry and, at times, can be safer than ground evacuations. However, flying in the Colorado mountains and with Colorado’s weather comes with risks and costs. Possible resources include private helicopters, air ambulances, and government-owned or contracted helicopters. The decision to use a helicopter during a BSAR incident is situationally dependent and complex, and is not taken lightly. You can take a deeper dive on this subject here.
Government-owned and contracted helicopters generally do not charge for their services. Currently, the Colorado National Guard performs a large number of BSAR rescues. Fortunately, they consider BSAR responses as ongoing training for their primary mission, which is going to war and protecting the United States. The techniques developed and used in the Colorado mountains are applicable in mountainous regions across the globe. Even so, their training budget is limited and they only respond when certain criteria are met.
Air ambulances may charge a rescued subject as they would any other patient, since they are part of the healthcare system. Private helicopters may be contracted by a sheriff’s office to assist with an incident. Costs for these helicopters are borne by the sheriff’s office. However, the sheriff’s office may be able to seek reimbursement through state funds.
How can I help?
Are you interested in supporting the BSAR community in Colorado? Here are some ways to do it:
- Support a local BSAR team as a donor, or perhaps as a member. You can read about joining a team here
- Donate to the CSAR to support all of the teams
- For Colorado residents, don’t opt out of the KCW pass on your next vehicle registration. If you don’t opt out, you will automatically buy the pass for only $29, which is a great deal and allows you unlimited visits to state parks, and you’ll also be putting money into the BSAR Fund.
- Buy a CORSAR card on Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s license page. CORSAR cards are not insurance, and there is no charge for backcountry rescue in Colorado whether you have the card or not. But it’s a good way to chip in on the equipment and training expenses of nonprofit teams.
- Enjoy Colorado safely by educating yourself and friends on backcountry safety and being prepared