Location and access
Include the trailhead or access point, staging area, and route to the scene. Add coordinates when available, alongside the address details, to identify a location off the road.
Backcountry rescue billing for fire departments
Backcountry rescue billing.
For the work beyond the road.
The access route, time on scene, and equipment used all belong in the rescue record. Send us those details with the available insurance information. We’ll prepare the billing and handle carrier follow-up.
Insurance companies only. Never the person rescued.
The response record
A clear record
of the rescue.
Record where crews went and what they did. The form captures apparatus and hours; the narrative and attachments explain the conditions and specialized work.
Time and resources
Select the responding stations and apparatus, then record their time. List rescue products used and drone hours when applicable. Explain personnel, rope systems, evacuation work, and mutual aid in the narrative or supporting reports.
Parties and insurance
Provide the involved vehicle, owner and driver details, and insurance information. Identify your department’s work separately from assisting agencies so we can review the response accurately.
Backcountry Rescue Claim
BR - Backcountry RescueResponse Details
Apparatus
- How many apparatus responded?
- 2
- How long? (hours)
- 3
Drone usage
- Drone Hours
- 0.75
From field records to insurance review
Your records.
Our insurance follow-up.
You know the response. We use the details you provide to prepare the insurance bill and follow it through the carrier’s review.
Your department
Send the records you have
Submit the incident report, response details, supporting documents, and insurance information. Let us know if a report is still pending.
If we need clarification, your team supplies the missing detail.
Onsite
Prepare, submit, and follow up
We review the records, prepare an itemized bill using Onsite’s rate schedule, and handle insurer questions and follow-up.
When funds are recovered, Onsite receives the payment, deducts its agreed fee, and pays your department its share.
Recovery Hub
Keep the field details
with the claim.
Your submitted rescue records stay with the claim in Recovery Hub. Check its status or payment activity, open the supporting documents, and use the reports when your team needs an update.
Reports distinguish billed amounts from recorded payments. An open claim is not money already recovered.
Can special rescue and search and rescue responses be billed?
Some responses may qualify, depending on local authority, incident facts, and available insurance coverage. A difficult or expensive rescue does not create coverage on its own. Onsite reviews the documentation and manages supported insurance billing without billing the rescued person or other individuals.
Why are GPS coordinates useful?
Coordinates help locate a response where a street address is incomplete or unavailable. Along with trailhead, staging, and access notes, they help explain where crews worked and how they reached the scene. Use the location information recorded during the response when available.
Does Onsite replace rescue documentation?
No. Your department remains responsible for its incident reports and operational records. Submit the available reports, notes, and resource details to Onsite. We organize those materials for billing review and may ask for clarification or missing information.
Let’s look at the rescues your department handles
Bring your questions about rescue records and insurance billing. We’ll explain what we need from your team, what Onsite handles, and how to get started if the program fits.
No contracts. No subscriptions. We only get paid when you do.