The state’s three most venerable independent volunteer search-and-rescue teams are scrambling to overcome skyrocketing insurance rates that threaten their existence.
At best, Boulder-based Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, the oldest team in the state, and Alpine Search and Rescue, which covers Clear Creek and Jefferson counties, may have to give up their independent status to work under the supervision of a county sheriff, which could restrict the places they serve.
Meanwhile, Arapahoe Rescue Patrol, the only certified team in the state staffed and operated exclusively by high-school-age teenagers, is in danger of folding altogether.
In all, almost 200 volunteer searchers could be affected.
Authorities say that if these groups are limited or no longer exist, critical response time and manpower will be lost, particularly along the Front Range.
“It would be like we went back in time to 20 or 30 years ago, when we’d end up calling for additional help from other counties as soon as we got in the field because we knew it would be the next day before they could respond,” said George Janson, a manager for Larimer County Search and Rescue who helps coordinate multiple-agency response throughout the state.
Workers’ compensation rates for emergency-response volunteers have tripled in the past three years in Colorado.
In 2002, the groups paid $116 per volunteer to Pinnacol Assurance, which provides policies to the majority of the state’s volunteer search-and-rescue teams and fire, police and ambulance organizations. That number has since risen to $420.
Although the annual number of rescue operations in Colorado has remained between 1,000 and 1,200 in recent years, insurance officials say the nature of the work makes the teams a riskier client.
“For the volunteer groups as an industry, costs and injuries have spiked (in recent years),” said Gary Pon, the president and chief executive of Pinnacol.
Rescue teams acknowledge the costs but say Pinnacol should have given them more warning so they could come up with other revenues.
“It’s a difficult time because these increases have been so rapid,” said Ann Keane, business manager for Rocky Mountain Rescue. “We haven’t been able to budget for them, and the money to pay for insurance is coming out of our reserves.”
Pon said rates could rise in the future but said his company will refrain from raising premiums in 2006 to help teams adjust.
While volunteers aren’t paid, state law requires their nonprofit organizations to provide insurance in case of injury.
Of the 50 volunteer search-and- rescue teams in the state, almost all of them work under a sheriff’s department, which in turn can provide funding and coverage under the county’s insurance policy.
The Rocky Mountain and Alpine teams, however, are reluctant do the same, fearing they would lose the ability to provide support anywhere in the state.
“It’s the nature of search-and- rescue teams to want to operate independently,” said Howard Paul, of the Alpine rescue team and president of the Colorado Search and Rescue Board. “Coming under a county umbrella could place limits on that coverage, and we might be unable to go out to other counties.”
Often, volunteer teams within a county’s supervision must get permission to cross boundaries and must make sure the county they are assisting can provide their insurance – all of which can slow response time, officials say.
Rocky Mountain Rescue is negotiating to move under Boulder County’s jurisdiction. A decision should be made within a month, Keane said.
“They’ve been very receptive and very supportive,” she said, though the group still worries about whether it can serve other counties. “It’s an important thing for us to help other teams in other counties and having them help us when we need it.”
Alpine members spent a recent Sunday training in the mountains west of Evergreen as two hikers watched. The pair were surprised to learn they were watching volunteers.
“There have been times when I’m out on a trail and don’t see other people for miles but felt relief knowing there are people like this out here to help,” said Sage Rebuehr, 30, of Denver.
The three teams get most of their funding through grants and donations. The teams, however, vow to preserve the tradition of never charging those they save.
“It’s goes to the old rules of the backcountry,” Paul said. “If you’re in the backcountry and find someone who needs help, and you can help them, then you just do it.”
Many of the volunteers train more than 1,000 hours each year, and they often pay for their own equipment and gas.
“It’s sad that something important to the community and … to us kids has the possibility of being shut down soon,” said Shea Gilliam, 17, an Arapahoe High School senior and a captain of the Arapahoe Rescue Patrol. “All of us on this team are very devoted, and we’ll volunteer all our free time to helping people.”
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-820-1173 or mgonzales@denverpost.com.
