15-90 Search & Rescue has a long list of desired equipment and training that we cannot afford. Financial donations are always welcome and graciously accepted. More about donating can be found on the donate page.

We do not sell badges or patches. Members return these items when they leave the group.

Our primary obligation is wilderness and urban search and rescue. This has included lost hunters, downed airplanes, avalanche victims, drowning victims, lost children, and even nursing home walk-aways. We also assist law enforcement with evidence retrieval, crowd control and security. In addition we train for emergency response such as wildfire, earthquakes, floods, haz-mat, and evacuation emergencies.

15-90 receives a small stipend from the Sheriff's budget which covers our taxes and insurance. In 2022 Butte-Silver Bow passed a mill levy that supports our operations and trainings. 15-90 Search & Rescue never solicits funding by telephone and any person or organization that calls and claims that is a scam.

Call-outs vary from as few as 3 or 4 a year to as many as 36 in a single year. The number is often influenced by the weather, in harsh years the number of searches can rise dramatically.

Under Montana law search and rescue falls under the authority of the County Sheriff. We have an excellent relationship with Sheriff Ed Lester and Captain Doug Conway who serve as our liaison with the Department.

15-90 Search and Rescue routinely assists other counties and teams as requested and has requested assistance from other teams in the past. The group works well with other teams and shares equipment and training on a regular basis.

Never wait until it is an emergency to call in your concern. Look at the weather conditions, time of day, health considerations, and err on the side of the missing person's safety. The command team has over 90 years of experience in search and rescue and they will respond at the proper time given all the situational information.

15-90 Search & Rescue has never charged for its services, our main focus is the safety of our neighbors. We do have the authority to seek reimbursement for costs if a search occurs as a result of bad faith conduct. If someone were to make a call as a prank or deception, the 15-90 team would seek compensation.

Our services are intended to save people in emergencies, there is no obligation for us to recover stuck vehicles. In the case that your equipment does get stuck we recommend you contact a private tow service or return on your own to the site in manageable weather.

We have written policy to rescue the victim but never retrieve a lost hunters game. If a hunter causes a false call out with the intention to get help in recovering his game the search and rescue team will seek compensation for all costs.