Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County Mounted Search and Rescue (MSAR) is celebrating their 25^th anniversary. The volunteer MSAR group was first organized in 1997 to serve as a search and rescue function in Boulder County. The group signed an agreement with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office in January 1998, which outlined their role in search and rescue activities, and the direction and support that the sheriff’s office would provide the group.

During the first year, there were 37 members who were initially part of the group. There are three members who are still active in the group that are original members from 1997. Today, there are 27 volunteer members in the group. The group serves many different important functions, including:

• Wilderness, rural, and urban searches for missing or lost persons
• Animal evacuation during disasters
• Evidence searches
• Pack needed equipment into incidents
• Mounted perimeter patrol for large search and rescue access areas

During the Marshall Fire, the volunteers of MSAR were deployed to assist with animal evacuations. They were able to rescue animals that were trapped or set loose and running free during the fast-moving fire, including horses, a mini-donkey, chickens, and ducks.

In the past year, the group has served for 290 volunteer hours for call outs. They have over 12,000 hours of training in navigation (map, compass, and GPS), equine scent detection, first aid, search training and horse and rider training.

Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson, “The Mounted Search and Rescue group has played an important role public safety in Boulder County for the last 25 years. The dedicated volunteers have honorably served our community, this was most recently highlighted by their courageous role during the Marshall Fire.”

For more information about the Boulder County Mounted Search and Rescue group, or to learn how to volunteer or donate to the team, please go to: www.boco-msar.org.