Story reposted with permission from The Times-Standard.
Humboldt County Search and Rescue helps sheriff’s departments locate, rescue, and recover missing people. They also assist in disasters and emergencies. As the organization’s website points out, with 2.3 million acres of mostly rugged terrain, we live and play in a beautiful place but at times things go wrong.
I spoke with HCSAR volunteers Jan Friedrichsen and Jesse Buell and opened by asking them how they came to be involved in the effort. Jesse worked in a support search-and-rescue position in the California Air National Guard and sought a hands-on role. Years ago, Jan Friedrichsen was interested in K-9 search and rescue, both she and the dog she owned at the time joined.
2026 has proved to be a particularly busy year. HCSAR went out on six searches in a recent five-week period. 2025 was more typical, with 18 searches that year. Jan pointed out that 2026 has been an awful year for drownings, particularly in the rivers. “We really want people to focus on safe water habits,” she said. Jesse added that, if you’re hiking into the woods, leaving behind a map or plan is really helpful to guide rescue efforts.
Jan says rescue efforts tend to result about 50/50 in happy and unhappy endings. Although it was a story with a sad ending, one of the most memorable events for Jesse involved an airplane crash in Kneeland that many readers will remember. The plane carried Cal Fire contractors. The county coroner recovered two bodies, and Humboldt Search and Rescue personnel brought them up from the crash site. Jesse recalls “lines of Cal Fire personnel saluting as we brought their people home. That call really left a mark on me.”
But the week prior to our interview, the team successfully rescued Jake Jakubowski, who went missing in the Mattole region. “Oh, the guy with the sandwich!” I blurted out, having seen the story. Rescuers had saved a chicken sandwich from the Honeydew Store for Jake.
Jan, Jesse, and I all turn out to be dog people. Jan clearly loves the involvement of herself and her dog with the K-9 Team. During the interview, Jesse was wearing a T-shirt with the words “my dog thinks I’m cool.” For my part, I have two dogs that run fast and look pretty but otherwise only serve as affable parasites.
Humboldt County Search and Rescue participants work under the Special Service Division of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. They are some of the most committed volunteers you’ll find. The group currently consists of 20 members, most of whom work full-time, and some who provide 20 hours or more per week. Total volunteer hours last year totaled about 4,000. Jan reviewed her personal log as we spoke and reported that she has participated in over 135 searches in total since joining Humboldt Search and Rescue.
Members work on several teams. Everyone is associated with the Ground Unit. There’s the K-9 Team, the Marine Unit and the recently formed Swiftwater Rescue Team. I found myself coveting the Marine Unit’s airboat, a large piece of equipment that Jan calls “a beast.” Jesse, who joined the effort a couple of years ago, said he’s amazed by the capability that has been added to HCSAR in that relatively short amount of time.
The organization is based in Humboldt, but sheriff’s departments in other counties such as Trinity, Siskiyou, and Mendocino will ask for help through mutual aid requests. Requests are increasing as HCSAR’s capabilities have become better known.
I noted the volunteer application process on the website looks more rigorous than most. Given the extensive — and expensive —nature of the training involved, that makes sense. HCSAR takes volunteer applications all year, but they interview and orient new folks twice a year. Volunteers are requested to commit for at least two years.
Members who have been on a team for a year can be nominated to fill Unit Board positions. To apply as a volunteer, or just to learn more, go to https://humboldtsar.org/.
One last tip: Please don’t bother these busy people with questions about borrowing the airboat. It’s not a good use of their time. Besides, I already tried and it’s a hard no.
Michael Kraft writes the Good Work series, volunteering on behalf of the Northern California Association of Nonprofits (NorCAN). NorCAN, a DreamMaker project of the Ink People Center for the Arts, supports connections between people and organizations that work every day to keep our communities strong by offering professional development, board support, networking connections and more. Learn more at https://norcal-nonprofits.org/. To nominate a deserving nonprofit organization to be profiled, email michael@kraftconsultants.com.