Welcome to Wilderness Search and Rescue
We serve the Lost!
We serve the Lost!
WSAR's primary service area is "Interior Alaska". This roughly represents the area between the Alaska Range and the Brooks Range. Just for reference, that means that we serve approximately 112,000 people spread out over 191,000 square miles.
The only state larger than our primary search area is Texas. This are is over twice the size of 40 of the remaining states. We are directly accountable to Alaska State Trooper Detachment D which has posts in Barrow, Cantwell, Delta Junction, Fairbanks, Galena, Healy, Nenana, Northway, and Tok and serves dozens of additional outlying communities and villages.
In the State of Alaska there are approximately 500 search and rescue incidents each year that fall within the jurisdiction of the Alaska State Troopers. This results in approximately 30,000 man hours, of which over two thirds are volunteer hours.
The back-bone of search and rescue services in Alaska is provided by trained volunteers without whom effective search and rescue cannot be conducted. In addition to the Alaska State Troopers, Wilderness Search and Rescue also provides service through resource sharing agree-ments with the US military, municipal and borough agencies, National Park Service, and other federal agencies.
WSAR works to prevent search and rescue incidents as well. We are involved with many community outreach and education events each year including.
Wilderness Search and Rescue is in need of funding to sustain service to our community. WSAR is an all-volunteer, professional search agency. All of our equipment and training expenses are paid by generous donors like you. Community members helping us help you.
Whether you help through monetary donations, volunteering your time, or spreading our mission through word-of-mouth, thank you. We couldn't accomplish our goals without the help of our supporters.