BluePrintSAR

Arizona State SAR

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Arizona Search and Rescue

Who leads searches in Arizona, how agencies request state help, and the resources behind them. Each item links to its source. Reviewed November 2026.

Emergency: call 911. State 24-hour contact: DEMA State Search and Rescue Coordinator 1-800-411-2336 (24/7 support to county sheriffs). How a state request works ↓

Requesting state help in Arizona

The county sheriff must conduct or coordinate search and rescue in the county whenever a person's life or health is involved, and may help other counties when their sheriff asks (A.R.S. § 11-441(C)).

  1. State 24-hour contactDEMA State Search and Rescue Coordinator 1-800-411-2336 (24/7 support to county sheriffs; DEMA).
  2. Requesting state resourcesThe sheriff gets a state mission number (mission identifier) from DEMA's SAR data system. The State SAR Coordinator is available 24/7 at 1-800-411-2336.

Want to write the request out before you call? Use the request builder. Official agency: DEMA ↗.

Key numbers

Only figures with a published source.

15counties

U.S. Census Bureau boundaries.

U.S. Census Bureau ↗

18Discipline directories

BluePrintSAR resource pages for Arizona (below).

How search and rescue is requested in Arizona

  1. Step 1In an emergency call 911. Any agency needing SAR calls the sheriff's office of the county where the person is missing; the sheriff runs or coordinates the search.
  2. Step 2The sheriff uses county deputies and volunteer units first, and may ask other county sheriffs for help (A.R.S. § 11-441(C)).
  3. Step 3The sheriff gets a state mission number (mission identifier) from DEMA's SAR data system. The State SAR Coordinator is available 24/7 at 1-800-411-2336.
  4. Step 4The mission number gives volunteers workers' compensation coverage and makes the county's costs eligible for state reimbursement.
  5. Step 5DEMA coordinates state resources, Arizona National Guard and U.S. military assets, and help from other states. Arizona DPS helicopters can be requested through DPS dispatch (1-800-247-6337 as listed in the federal PMS 512 directory).
  6. Step 6The sheriff keeps command; responding resources work under the sheriff's incident command.

Law and authority

A.R.S. § 11-441(C)

"The sheriff shall conduct or coordinate within the county search or rescue operations involving the life or health of any person or may assist in such operations in another county at the request of that county's sheriff."

Read the source ↗

A.R.S. § 35-192.01

State reimbursement to counties for search or rescue costs: up to 50% of the first $1,000, up to 75% of costs from $1,000 to $21,000, and 100% of costs above $21,000 in a fiscal year.

Read the source ↗

Ariz. Admin. Code R8-2-102

The Division of Emergency Management supports sheriffs: mission identifiers through its SAR data system, state personnel and equipment, Arizona National Guard and U.S. military assets, and reimbursement of eligible claims.

Read the source ↗

A.R.S. § 23-901 (definition of employee, volunteers)

Unpaid volunteers on a search or rescue operation or training that has a DEMA mission identifier count as volunteer state employees for workers' compensation.

Read the source ↗

A.R.S. § 28-910 ("Stupid Motorist Law")

A driver who goes around barricades into a flooded area can be billed up to $2,000 for the emergency response.

Read the source ↗

State plans and guidelines

Official plans, annexes and program documents for Arizona.

  • DEMA Response Branch ↗ — Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs response branch, which coordinates state support to counties.

Resources by discipline

What each resource does, how it is requested in Arizona, and the standards that apply.

Listed in BluePrintSAR directories for Arizona

Loading counts…

Counts are directory category listings, not unique organizations, personnel or available assets. Informational canine placeholders are excluded. Organizations can appear in several categories; canine specialty subtotals can overlap.

Aviation (DPS Ranger)

Sheriffs run SAR by statute; Arizona DPS Air Rescue flies hoist-equipped Bell 429 helicopters from four bases.

How to request

In Arizona, aircraft are requested by the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

There is no state aircrew standard. DPS contracted Priority 1 Air Rescue in February 2024 for a five-year program training Bell 429 pilots, hoist operators and paramedic rescue specialists in Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff, including night vision goggle SAR.

Arizona Aviation (DPS Ranger) directory

Canine (K9)

Sheriff-controlled K-9 teams using ASARCA K-9 task books; NASAR used by some city teams

How to request

In Arizona the county sheriff conducts or coordinates search and rescue (ARS 11-441) and requests canine teams.

Standards and policy

Arizona has no state-issued SAR dog certification. ASARCA publishes voluntary K-9 task books for air scent/wilderness (Levels 1-2), land and crime-scene human remains detection, trailing/tracking (Levels 1-3) and water human remains detection (Levels 1-4).

Arizona Canine (K9) directory

Cave & Mine Rescue

Volunteer specialists

Specialists for rescues in caves and mines, where rope work, tight passages and communications make ordinary rescue methods hard.

Who provides it in Arizona

Cave rescuers serve on local rescue squads and cave rescue groups. The National Cave Rescue Commission (part of the National Speleological Society) trains them and tracks cave rescue resources and specialized equipment. Arizona is in the NCRC Southwestern Region. Accidents at working mines fall under the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

How to request

Call 911. The agency with jurisdiction requests cave rescuers and can reach the NCRC regional coordinator listed on the NCRC staff page. Report an accident at a working mine to MSHA at 1-800-746-1553.

Standards and policy

NCRC national cave rescue curriculum: Orientation to Cave Rescue, Level 1 Team Member and Level 2 Team Leader.

Arizona Cave & Mine Rescue directory NCRC about ↗ NCRC regional coordinators ↗ MSHA emergency contact ↗

Cell Phone Forensics

Kelsey Smith Act law: none found. 6 agencies and resources listed. All checked against a cited source.

How to request

In Arizona, only the law enforcement agency running the search can ask a carrier for a phone's location.

Standards and policy

There is no single national certification for cell phone analysis in searches; agencies and labs set their own training requirements.

Arizona Cell Phone Forensics directory

Coast Guard

Coast Guard district and 1 sector covering Arizona, plus a Coast Guard air station and Auxiliary units. Each card cites its source.

How to request

In Arizona, call 911 or VHF-FM Channel 16 for a maritime emergency.

Standards and policy

Coast Guard and Auxiliary crews qualify under Coast Guard training programs; local marine units follow the standards their agency sets.

Arizona Coast Guard directory

Communication

National SAR and interoperability channels from the NIFOG, plus 5 state, local and volunteer radio systems and groups. All checked against official sources.

How to request

In Arizona, the agency running the search sets the radio plan.

Standards and policy

Communications unit leaders (COML) and technicians (COMT) train through CISA courses and state credentialing; volunteers hold FCC amateur licenses.

Arizona Communication directory

Dive & Underwater

6 public safety, volunteer and state boating listings, each checked against a cited source.

How to request

In Arizona, start with the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

Public safety dive teams commonly train to NFPA 1006 (technical rescue personnel qualifications), which covers dive rescue; each team’s sponsoring agency sets its own certification requirements.

Arizona Dive & Underwater directory

Drone / UAS

State drone law: A.R.S. 13-3729. 5 agency and volunteer drone listings, each checked against a published source.

How to request

In Arizona, drone teams are requested by the agency running the search.

Standards and policy

Part 107 pilots complete FAA recurrent training every 24 months; agency programs set their own proficiency standards.

Arizona Drone / UAS directory

Sheriff / Law Enforcement

The county sheriff must conduct or coordinate search and rescue in the county whenever a person's life or health is involved, and may help other counties when their sheriff asks (A.R.S.

How to request

In an emergency call 911. Any agency needing SAR calls the sheriff's office of the county where the person is missing; the sheriff runs or coordinates the search.

Standards and policy

No state-issued certification required by law. Each sheriff sets member standards; the Arizona Search and Rescue Coordinators Association (ASARCA) runs voluntary statewide task-book certifications

Arizona Sheriff / Law Enforcement directory

Mantracking

Sheriff SAR units

Trackers who find and follow a missing person’s footprints and other sign on the ground.

Who provides it in Arizona

Sheriff’s SAR volunteers train in tracking; for example, the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office SAR unit lists tracking among its in-house training. See the directory below.

How to request

The agency running the search requests trackers, usually alongside ground search teams; see who leads searches above.

Standards and policy

ASTM F2852, Standard Practice for Training a Land Search Tracker, sets minimum training for trackers supporting a land search. FEMA’s Land SAR Team typing (8-508-1173) references ASTM F2209 for land search team members.

Arizona Mantracking directory ASTM F2852 (tracker training) ↗ FEMA Land SAR Team definition ↗

Marine & Boating Law Enforcement

State boating agency

Officers and boats on lakes, rivers and coastal waters who respond to boating emergencies and support water searches.

Who provides it in Arizona

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators lists Arizona Game & Fish Dept as Arizona’s boating law agency (boating safety, enforcement and registration).

How to request

Call 911 for a water emergency; the agency with jurisdiction requests marine units through dispatch.

Standards and policy

State boating laws. NASBLA promotes uniform state boating laws and their enforcement (U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division).

Arizona Marine / Surface Water directory Arizona Game & Fish Dept ↗ NASBLA Arizona boating contacts ↗ State boating laws (USCG Boating Safety) ↗

National Guard

Governor-activated

Military helicopters and personnel for hoist rescue, aerial search and ground support when civilian resources can’t do the job.

Who provides it in Arizona

The Arizona National Guard (Army and Air), activated in state status by the Governor.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests it through DEMA. NWCG’s helicopter extraction list directs 911 and dispatch centers to coordinate requests for military, Coast Guard and National Guard aircraft through the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) at 800-851-3051.

Standards and policy

State active duty under the Governor’s authority; Guard aircraft used for SAR are coordinated with the rescue coordination center.

Arizona National Guard directory Arizona National Guard (official) ↗ State Guard websites (National Guard Bureau) ↗ DEMA ↗ Helicopter extraction source list (NWCG PMS 512) ↗

State Parks

State agency

The state park system, whose staff know park terrain and trails and support searches on park land.

Who provides it in Arizona

Arizona State Parks. The National Association of State Park Directors lists this as the official park-system website.

How to request

For an emergency in a park, call 911. Park staff support the agency with jurisdiction; see who leads searches at the top of this page.

Standards and policy

Park rules and staff authority are set by the state park agency; see its website.

Arizona State Parks & Forestry directory Arizona State Parks (official) ↗ State park directory (America’s State Parks) ↗

Swiftwater & Flood Rescue

Fire and sheriff teams

Teams that search for and rescue people and animals in swiftwater and floods, from shore and by boat.

Who provides it in Arizona

Fire departments and sheriff’s SAR teams. Phoenix Fire Department publishes a water rescue procedure (204.11) for canal and flood rescue, and the Central Arizona Rescue Operation, a volunteer team under the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, responds to swiftwater rescues. See the directory below.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests water rescue through 911 dispatch. When local teams are exceeded, help is requested through DEMA.

Standards and policy

FEMA’s NIMS resource typing defines a Swiftwater/Flood Search and Rescue Team (8-508-1020), which provides shore-based and boat-based water rescue, basic life support and animal rescue.

Arizona Swiftwater directory FEMA Swiftwater/Flood SAR Team definition ↗ DEMA ↗

Technical Mountain Rescue

MRA teams listed

Teams for steep, high-angle and alpine terrain that use rope systems to reach and evacuate people.

Who provides it in Arizona

Mountain Rescue Association member teams based in Arizona: Central Arizona Mountain Rescue; Coconino County Sheriff’s SAR; Southern Arizona Rescue Association. Associate members: Cochise County Sheriff’s SAR; Tonto Rim Search & Rescue.

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests the team, usually through 911 dispatch; see who leads searches above. Help from outside the area is requested through DEMA.

Standards and policy

FEMA’s NIMS resource typing defines a Mountain Search and Rescue Team (8-508-1171) for low mountain, mountain and alpine environments. The MRA lists member teams by region with their membership status.

Arizona Technical Mountain & Cliff Rescue directory MRA Desert Mountain Region teams ↗ FEMA Mountain SAR Team definition ↗

USAR (FEMA / State Task Force)

One FEMA task force is based here (AZ-TF1).

How to request

In Arizona, US&R teams are requested by the agency in charge of the incident, through the state emergency management agency when local resources run short.

Standards and policy

FEMA task forces train to FEMA and NFPA standards; state and regional teams follow the standards their sponsor sets.

Arizona USAR (FEMA / State Task Force) directory

Federal lands (Forest Service and National Park Service)

Federal land manager

Federal land agencies whose staff support searches on national forests, grasslands and parks.

Who provides it in Arizona

National forests and grasslands in Arizona on the Forest Service’s list: Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests; Coconino National Forest; Coronado National Forest; Kaibab National Forest; Prescott National Forest; Tonto National Forest. The National Park Service lists 25 park sites in Arizona.

How to request

Searches on national forest land are led by the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction (in most states, the county sheriff), with the Forest Service supporting under cooperative agreements. In a national park, call 911 or the park’s emergency line; the NPS will make reasonable efforts to search for lost persons, using its own staff or partner SAR organizations under formal agreements.

Standards and policy

NPS Management Policies 2006, §8.2.5.3: SAR runs under the Incident Command System and visitors are not charged for it.

Arizona Federal Lands (USFS / NPS / BLM) directory NPS sites in Arizona ↗ Forest Service units by state ↗ USDA testimony on sheriff SAR agreements ↗ NPS SAR policy excerpt ↗

UTV & ATV Units

Sheriff SAR units

Off-road vehicles, including UTVs, ATVs and e-bikes, that move searchers and equipment and carry out injured people over rough trails.

Who provides it in Arizona

Sheriff’s SAR units run them; for example, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office added a Sherp all-terrain rescue vehicle for snow, mud and water in 2024. See the directory below.

How to request

The agency running the search requests vehicle units; see who leads searches above.

Standards and policy

FEMA’s Land SAR Team typing (8-508-1173) includes ground vehicles for support, transportation and evacuation in land and wilderness searches.

Arizona UTV & ATV Units directory FEMA Land SAR Team definition ↗

15-county directory

Each county and its sheriff’s office. Who leads a search varies by state; see the top of this page. For an emergency, call 911.

All 15 phone numbers verified (2026-10) against the agency’s own site, a government directory, or a sheriffs’ association or IACP directory; each “Verified” link shows the source. For an emergency, call 911.

JurisdictionAgencyPhone
Apache CountyApache County Sheriff’s Office(928) 337-4321
sheriff’s office line; option 6 for non-emergency dispatch · Verified
Cochise CountyCochise County Sheriff’s Office(520) 432-9500
non-emergency reporting line (county sheriff page) · Verified
Coconino CountyCoconino County Sheriff’s Office(928) 774-4523
non-emergency line; option 1 for dispatch · Verified
Gila CountyGila County Sheriff’s Office(928) 425-4449
non-emergency assistance; option 2 (Public Safety Communications) · Verified
Graham CountyGraham County Sheriff’s Office(928) 428-3141
sheriff’s office line (administration Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) · Verified
Greenlee CountyGreenlee County Sheriff’s Office(928) 865-4149
sheriff’s office contact (county sheriff page) · Verified
La Paz CountyLa Paz County Sheriff’s Office(928) 669-6141
sheriff’s office line (office Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) · Verified
Maricopa CountyMaricopa County Sheriff’s Office(602) 876-1000
sheriff’s office main line · Verified
Mohave CountyMohave County Sheriff’s Office(928) 753-0753
sheriff’s office main phone (county sheriff page) · Verified
Navajo CountyNavajo County Sheriff’s Office(928) 524-4050
sheriff’s office main line (county directory) · Verified
Pima CountyPima County Sheriff’s Office(520) 351-4900
non-emergency (information line 520-351-4600) · Verified
Pinal CountyPinal County Sheriff’s Office(520) 866-5111
sheriff’s office non-emergency line (county directory) · Verified
Santa Cruz CountySanta Cruz County Sheriff’s Office(520) 761-7869
sheriff’s office phone (official county sheriff page) · Verified
Yavapai CountyYavapai County Sheriff’s Office(928) 771-3260
sheriff’s office phone (official sheriff site) · Verified
Yuma CountyYuma County Sheriff’s Office(928) 783-4427
main office: administration and patrol · Verified
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