The Fresno County Sheriff's Jeep Rescue Unit augments and supports the Sheriff's Office by responding to, and performing duties related to search and rescue, fire, flood and other such disasters. The unit maintains a group of qualified, trained and mission-ready volunteers to be on-call and respond to any situation, in any weather, and at any time, when requested by the Sheriff's Office.

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In 1965 the Sheriff's Office sought to reduce its response time for searches within the county's boundaries in the back country of the Sierra National Forest by accessing the four-wheel drive trails by vehicle. The Sheriff requested help from the only four-wheel drive club in the area, at the time, the Four-Wheel Drive Club of Fresno. Six members initially "volunteered" their vehicles, their time, and most importantly, their experience and knowledge of the local four-wheel drive trails. This inaugural group of volunteers in 1965, with the founding approval of the Sheriff, established the Fresno County Sheriff's Jeep Rescue Unit. Through the many years the unit has developed into one of the finest off highway vehicles teams in the state. All members are first aid certified. Some are first responder, EMT, and Paramedic trained. Members of the unit are registered as Disaster Service Workers with the California Emergency Management Agency and respond to mutual aid requests from other counties when requested of the Sheriff's Office. Team members are trained in map & compass and GPS navigation, man-tracking, and first aid. Members are sworn volunteers dedicated to serving the public through their volunteer membership with the unit.