By Corinne Harmon, Sharlot Hall Museum
Corinne Harmon is the Grants Coordinator at Sharlot Hall Museum. She has been involved in Search & Rescue since 2005, beginning her SAR journey in the Pacific Northwest. She is currently a Wilderness First Responder with Yavapai County Search & Rescue and serves on the Search Dog Unit.
Long before Arizona became a state, its rugged landscape demanded grit, resilience, and a willingness to help one’s neighbors. In the 1800s, when travelers went missing in the desert or livestock strayed into the mountains, rescues were informal—carried out by ranchers, prospectors, or anyone willing to follow tracks and brave the elements. These early efforts laid the foundation for a tradition of community-driven response that would evolve into today’s organized Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
As Arizona’s population grew in the 20th century and outdoor recreation expanded—from the Grand Canyon’s remote trails to the Bradshaw Mountains’ mining roads—the need for coordinated rescue services became increasingly urgent. SAR groups today operate under the authority of a county sheriff. The Arizona constitution states a sheriff can request aid of a “posse” or may “command” county inhabitants. During World War II, the Yavapai County Mounted Sheriff's Posse formed to boost manpower in the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department and assist with rescues. In 1944 other organizations such as the National Park Service and the Army, conducted an historic rescue of a B-24 Bomber crew stranded in the Grand Canyon. Local pilots formed an association that used planes and jeeps to find downed planes, which became the Yavapai County Jeep Posse. Counties began forming official SAR units, often composed of trained volunteers under the direction of local sheriff’s offices. Radios replaced hand signals, four-wheel-drive vehicles replaced horses, and rescue missions became faster and more effective.
The arrival of monsoon storms brings both relief and risk. After months of dry heat, the rain is welcome—but sudden downpours can trigger flash floods that sweep away roads and trap hikers in canyons with little warning. SAR teams must act fast, navigating debris- strewn washes and unstable ground to reach those in danger.
Fire season poses different challenges. Lightning strikes or human activity can spark wildfires that race across the dry landscape. SAR volunteers are often called to assist with evacuations, especially in remote or mountainous areas. They help guide residents to safety, coordinate with fire crews, and monitor changing conditions. The devastating 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, in which 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots lost their lives, remains one of Arizona’s most sobering examples of how quickly fire can turn deadly—and how essential SAR teams are during such events.
Yavapai County is home to one of Arizona’s most experienced SAR units. Volunteers in this region respond to a wide range of calls, from stranded motorists and lost hikers to large-scale evacuations. Their work is physically demanding and emotionally intense. Missions may last hours or days, requiring teamwork, navigation skills, and steady nerves. GPS devices, drones, and helicopters often assist—but nothing replaces local knowledge, persistence, and trained eyes on the ground.
Most SAR members are volunteers. They buy their own equipment, train regularly, and remain on-call for emergencies—all without compensation. Their motivation is simple: to save lives.
On Saturday, July 19, at the Sharlot Hall Museum, join Corinne Harmon along with William “Bull” Pratt and K9 members of the Search Dog Unit for When the Call Comes: Search and Rescue in Arizona’s Fire and Flood Seasons, part of our “Living History Lecture Series.” We’ll share stories from the field and explore the long history of SAR efforts across Arizona—from territorial rescues on horseback to modern missions aided by satellite tracking.
Come learn how our state’s most dangerous seasons continue to shape the courage, resilience, and deep-rooted tradition of Arizona’s Search and Rescue teams.
“Days Past” is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners International (www.prescottcorral.org). This and other Days Past articles are also available at archives.sharlothallmuseum.org/articles/days-past-articles/1 The public is encouraged to submit proposed articles and inquiries to dayspast@sharlothallmuseum.org Please contact SHM Research Center reference desk at 928-277-2003, or via email at archivesrequest@sharlothallmuseum.org for information or assistance with photo requests.