Utah Search and Rescue: Who Leads & How to Request Help

Checking active alerts in Utah…See active incidents →

Utah Search and Rescue

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

Emergency: call 911. State contact (business hours): Utah Division of Emergency Management (801) 965-4461 (Mon–Fri, 8 am–5 pm). No 24-hour state line published. How a state request works ↓

Requesting state help in Utah

The county sheriff leads search and rescue. Utah law makes it a general duty of every sheriff to manage and direct search and rescue services in the county.

State contact (business hours)Utah Division of Emergency Management (801) 965-4461 (Mon–Fri, 8 am–5 pm). No 24-hour state line published.
Requesting state resourcesFor state help after hours, the county emergency manager contacts the Utah Division of Emergency Management on-call duty officer (no public 24-hour number is published).

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

Key numbers

Only figures with a published source.

29counties

U.S. Census Bureau boundaries.

U.S. Census Bureau ↗

18Discipline directories

BluePrintSAR resource pages for Utah (below).

How search and rescue is requested in Utah

Step 1In an emergency call 911. Agencies needing SAR contact the sheriff's office of the county where the person is missing; the sheriff manages and directs SAR there.
Step 2The sheriff uses its own certified volunteer SAR team first and asks neighboring sheriffs for more teams.
Step 3For state help after hours, the county emergency manager contacts the Utah Division of Emergency Management on-call duty officer (no public 24-hour number is published).
Step 4Military or Civil Air Patrol help is normally requested through the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (800-851-3051).

Law and authority

Utah Code § 17-72-301(1)(o)

(Recodified November 6, 2025; formerly § 17-22-2(1)(p).) The sheriff shall manage and direct search and rescue services in the county, including emergency medical responders and other related incident response activities.

Read the source ↗

Utah Code Title 53, Chapter 2a, Part 11 (Search and Rescue Act, §§ 53-2a-1101 to 1104)

Creates the Search and Rescue Financial Assistance Program in the Division of Emergency Management, the Utah Search and Rescue Assistance (USARA) card, and the Search and Rescue Advisory Board (sheriffs, SAR volunteers and emergency management) that decides reimbursements.

Read the source ↗

Utah Code § 67-20-7.5

A volunteer SAR team member is treated as an employee of the county whose sheriff certifies and supervises them, for workers' compensation.

Read the source ↗

State plans and guidelines

Official plans, annexes and program documents for Utah.

State of Utah EOP Basic Plan (2016–2020) ↗ — Utah Division of Emergency Management basic plan for the state EOP.

Resources by discipline

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

Listed in BluePrintSAR directories for Utah

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.

Show

Aviation (UT DPS / ANG)

State Highway Patrol Aero Bureau flies most hoist SAR; county sheriffs request it, with Guard and Civil Air Patrol as backup.

How to request

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

Standards and policy

There is no state statute or rule setting aircrew qualifications for SAR. The Utah Search and Rescue Act funds county SAR but is mostly about reimbursement. Crew standards are agency policy; Civil Air Patrol crews follow national CAP rules.

Utah Aviation (UT DPS / ANG) directory

Canine (K9)

County sheriffs deploy SAR dogs; Utah POST offers SAR/tracking K9 certification and volunteer teams use NASAR SARTECH II

How to request

In Utah, the county sheriff manages search and rescue (Utah Code § 17-72-301) and calls out the sheriff's SAR team and canine resources.

Standards and policy

Utah has no state SAR dog card. Utah POST's K-9 Program certifies Search/Rescue and Tracking/Trailing dogs (an eight-week course; Utah officers pay no tuition) but its published K-9 statute and rule (Utah Code 53-6-401 to 403, R728-508) cover law enforcement canines. Utah Search Dogs says all its handlers are NASAR SARTECH II certified.

Utah 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 Utah

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. Utah is in the NCRC Rocky Mountain 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.

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

Cell Phone Forensics

Kelsey Smith Act law: yes (signed March 27, 2013). 6 agencies and resources listed. All checked against official sources.

How to request

In Utah, 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.

Utah Cell Phone Forensics directory

Coast Guard Auxiliary

Coast Guard district and 2 sectors covering Utah, plus 9 stations, local and volunteer units. All checked against a cited source.

How to request

In Utah, 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.

Utah Coast Guard Auxiliary 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 Utah, 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.

Utah Communication directory

Dive & Underwater

3 public safety and volunteer dive teams listed. All checked against a cited source.

How to request

In Utah, 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.

Utah Dive & Underwater directory

Drone / UAS

State drone law: Utah Code 72-10-802. 5 agency and volunteer drone teams listed, each checked against a published source.

How to request

In Utah, 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.

Utah Drone / UAS directory

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 Utah

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

How to request

The agency with jurisdiction requests it through Utah DEM. 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.

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

Mantracking

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

Who provides it in Utah

Trackers are requested through the agency running the search. This page does not list specific Utah tracking teams.

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.

Utah 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 Utah

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators lists Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation as Utah’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).

Utah Marine / State Parks Boating directory Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation ↗ NASBLA Utah boating contacts ↗ State boating laws (USCG Boating Safety) ↗

Sheriff / Law Enforcement

The county sheriff leads search and rescue.

How to request

In an emergency call 911. Agencies needing SAR contact the sheriff's office of the county where the person is missing; the sheriff manages and directs SAR there.

Standards and policy

No state-issued SAR certification. Each sheriff certifies its own volunteers; the Utah Sheriffs' Association publishes common SAR standards.

Utah Sheriff / Law Enforcement directory

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 Utah

Utah 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.

Utah State Parks & Recreation directory Utah State Parks (official) ↗ State park directory (America’s State Parks) ↗

Swiftwater & Flood Rescue

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

Who provides it in Utah

Swiftwater and flood rescue is requested through the agency with jurisdiction. This page does not list specific Utah swiftwater teams.

How to request

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

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.

Utah Swiftwater directory FEMA Swiftwater/Flood SAR Team definition ↗ Utah DEM ↗

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 Utah

Mountain Rescue Association member teams based in Utah: Cache County Search & Rescue; Davis County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue; Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue; Utah County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue; Weber County SAR Mountain 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 Utah DEM.

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.

Utah Technical Mountain Rescue directory MRA Inter Mountain Region teams ↗ FEMA Mountain SAR Team definition ↗

USAR (FEMA / State Task Force)

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

How to request

In Utah, 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.

Utah 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 Utah

National forests and grasslands in Utah on the Forest Service’s list: Ashley National Forest; Caribou-Targhee National Forest; Dixie National Forest; Fishlake National Forest; Manti-La Sal National Forest; Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The National Park Service lists 17 park sites in Utah.

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.

Utah National Forests & Parks (USFS / NPS) directory NPS sites in Utah ↗ Forest Service units by state ↗ USDA testimony on sheriff SAR agreements ↗ NPS SAR policy excerpt ↗

UTV & ATV 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 Utah

Off-road vehicle support is requested through the agency running the search. This page does not list specific Utah UTV or ATV units.

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.

Utah UTV & ATV / Snowmobiles directory FEMA Land SAR Team definition ↗

29-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 29 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.

Jurisdiction	Agency	Phone
Beaver County	Beaver County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 438-2862 sheriff dispatch (Utah PSAP contact list 2025) · Verified
Box Elder County	Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 734-3800 sheriff’s office main line · Verified
Cache County	Cache County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 753-7555 dispatch, non-emergency (main 435-755-1000) · Verified
Carbon County	Carbon County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 636-3251 sheriff’s business office (non-emergency dispatch 435-637-0890) · Verified
Daggett County	Daggett County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 784-3255 sheriff’s office line (dispatch 435-789-4222) · Verified
Davis County	Davis County Sheriff’s Office	(801) 497-8300 sheriff dispatch (Utah PSAP contact list 2025) · Verified
Duchesne County	Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 738-2424 dispatch (main 435-738-2015) · Verified
Emery County	Emery County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 381-2111 sheriff dispatch (Utah PSAP contact list 2025) · Verified
Garfield County	Garfield County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 676-1134 sheriff dispatch (Utah PSAP contact list 2025) · Verified
Grand County	Grand County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 259-8115 sheriff dispatch (Utah PSAP contact list 2025) · Verified
Iron County	Iron County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 867-7500 sheriff’s office main line · Verified
Juab County	Juab County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 623-1344 sheriff’s office line · Verified
Kane County	Kane County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 644-2349 sheriff dispatch (Utah PSAP contact list 2025) · Verified
Millard County	Millard County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 743-5302 sheriff dispatch (Utah PSAP contact list 2025) · Verified
Morgan County	Morgan County Sheriff’s Office	(801) 395-8221 dispatch (Weber Area 911 also dispatches Morgan County); sheriff’s office 801-829-0590 · Verified
Piute County	Piute County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 577-2893 sheriff’s office line (if no answer 435-577-2972) · Verified
Rich County	Rich County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 793-2285 sheriff dispatch (Utah PSAP contact list 2025) · Verified
Salt Lake County	Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office	(801) 840-4000 dispatch, non-emergency (main 385-468-9898) · Verified
San Juan County	San Juan County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 587-2237 sheriff’s office line (county contacts) · Verified
Sanpete County	Sanpete County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 835-2345 sheriff dispatch (Utah PSAP contact list 2025) · Verified
Sevier County	Sevier County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 896-2600 sheriff’s office line (Utah BCI agency list, Nov 2025) · Verified
Summit County	Summit County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 615-3600 sheriff dispatch (Utah PSAP contact list 2025) · Verified
Tooele County	Tooele County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 882-5600 sheriff dispatch (Utah PSAP contact list 2025) · Verified
Uintah County	Uintah County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 789-2511 sheriff’s office line (Utah BCI agency list, Nov 2025) · Verified
Utah County	Utah County Sheriff’s Office	(801) 851-4000 sheriff’s office main line · Verified
Wasatch County	Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 654-1411 sheriff dispatch (Utah PSAP contact list 2025) · Verified
Washington County	Washington County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 656-6500 sheriff’s office line (Town of Leeds official site; matches IACP listing) · Verified
Wayne County	Wayne County Sheriff’s Office	(435) 836-1308 sheriff’s office line (non-emergency 800-356-8757) · Verified
Weber County	Weber County Sheriff’s Office	(801) 395-8221 non-emergency dispatch · Verified

Page edited November 2, 2026How we verify Get SAR news alerts Is this your team? Correct or share this listing

Utah State SAR