ABOUT THE ALTADENA MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM

Established in 1951, it is the oldest organization of its kind in Los Angeles County. The Altadena Mountain Rescue Team is a 501(c)3 nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to saving lives through mountain rescue and safety education. It has been a member unit of the Sheriff's Department Reserve Forces Bureau since 1956.

Headquartered at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Altadena Station, the team is staffed by reserve deputies and civilian volunteer specialists, and is operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is one of eight teams in the Los Angeles County, which together, are staffed by 120 trained members.

On average, the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team conducts approximately 100 search and rescue operations every year. In addition to those rescues within Los Angeles County, the team has participated in rescue operations throughout California, and in New York, Hawaii, and Mexico.

The team also conducts weekend patrols of the mountain areas within its jurisdiction, namely the 20 canyons behind Altadena and Pasadena. Members are assigned weekend duty on a rotating basis, which averages once every other month. These patrols ensure a quick response to emergencies during a time when they are most likely to occur, and serve as a means of fire prevention and mountain safety.

Mountain rescue team members come from all walks of life. The professional occupations of volunteer members have included: teachers, paramedics, small business owners, lawyers, registered nurses, engineers, physician assistants, police officers, corporate managers, IT professionals, and members of the entertainment industry.