Jefferson Search and Rescue (JSAR) holds its second annual boot camp between March 8 and May 10.

The free training encompasses all first-year Washington state emergency worker requirements. Anyone interested in being a volunteer search and rescue worker should take advantage of this, said JSAR training chair Matt Stewart.

“This is our annual chance to cover basic and intermediate navigation, radio communications, foundational search skills, an awareness-level introduction to technical rope rescue and individual survival skills,” Stewart said.

No prior experience is necessary. A wish to help others in your community is important. Much of JSAR’s team shares a love of the outdoors and general physical fitness, but there is a variety of ways to make a contribution, he said.

JSAR teams assist local law enforcement and federal land-management agencies by responding to missing hikers, providing technical rescue knowledge, supporting Project Life Saver and many other tasks as necessary.

“The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office [JCSO] relies almost exclusively on JSAR teams to perform lifesaving rescue missions within this county and to assist neighboring counties as needed,” said Art Frank, JCSO chief criminal deputy. “There is no doubt that without these dedicated volunteers who donate thousands of hours, lives would be lost.”

For more information, contact Stewart at 360-797-5011 or mstewart@jsar-wa.com.

CRAB POT SALE

JSAR also hosts a sale of crab pots and related gear from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, March 19 at 2355 W. Sims Way in Port Townsend.

Both commercial and recreational crab pots are available for purchase, along with bait boxes, weighted rope and floats. The reclaimed and refurbished equipment was donated by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, which attempts to return pots to identified owners and donates them only if that proves impossible.

JSAR uses the sales to fund its equipment and training. Call 360-797-5011 with questions about the sale.

ABOUT JSAR

Jefferson Search and Rescue is a Washington state nonprofit corporation.

Volunteer members conduct search and rescue operations as well as public education services for the people of Jefferson County and the Olympic Peninsula.

JSAR missions are directed by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, which has legal responsibility under the law for all search and rescue activities in the county.

JSAR meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at East Jefferson Fire Rescue Station 1-1 in Chimacum.