KMAS

Jeff Slakey broadcasts from in front of the Mason County Search & Rescue Mobile Command Center with volunteers Jake, Jesse, and Scott for an update on one of the hardest-working all-volunteer teams on the Olympic Peninsula. Activated by and in support of the Mason County Sheriff's Office, MCSAR finds, treats, and extracts lost subjects across some of the state's most rugged, densely forested terrain.

With more people moving to the area and hitting the trails, call volume has climbed sharply in recent years. In response, the team has expanded beyond its canine, mobile, and ground roots to add a technical rope-rescue team and a new drone unit, and it's now fundraising for a drone with thermal night vision. The crew explains the 20–30 hours of training it takes to certify, the push for more Part 107 drone pilots, and why MCSAR is increasingly called to assist other counties and the state.

MCSAR's Comedy Night Fundraiser returns Saturday, September 12 at the pavilion in Shelton. After raising about $13,000 with 125 guests in 2025, the team is aiming for 250 attendees this year. Proceeds fund critical training (CPR, medical, rope rescue) and gear for volunteers who pay out of pocket to serve. Mason County Search and Rescue
🔗 https://masoncountysar.org/