Snohomish Search and Rescue marks 50 years

Today marks the 50th anniversary for the Snohomish County Search and Rescue organization.

The volunteers held an open house at Taylor’s Landing today to give a public a glimpse into what they do.

The non-profit currently have more than 300 members who donate their time in emergency incidents.

Among them is John Mckeon, who joined the team after the search and rescue volunteers rescued his son off Three Fingers Mountain in 2008.

"As a parent, how do you say thank you," says Mckeon. "It was amazing. I have never seen anything like it."

These men and women were critical in the rescue and recovery efforts including the deadly Oso landslide in 2014 and the fatal fall of an 18-year-old college student in Gold Bar this summer.

“Each county sheriff’s department is responsible for search and rescue operation,” says Randy Fay, the board president of the Snohomish County Search & Rescue. “They just don’t have the finances or the manpower to do some of this stuff.

And that's why these volunteers say they are always looking for new recruits.

Applicants can be as young as 14 years old to join the explorers program.

Cox Media Group