(File photo: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

SEARCH AND RESCUE FUNDING

“Starting to take things to the next level”: KSAR relieved to see long term funding from province

Jul 22, 2020 | 4:41 PM

KAMLOOPS — Starting in 2022, search and rescue operations in British Columbia will see a provincial funding boost kick in- providing $6 million annually.

Along with substantial time commitments from volunteers, search and rescue teams also need money to operate, purchase equipment and pay for training courses. For years, the B.C. Search and Rescue Association has been working on securing long-term funding from the province.

Kamloops Search and Rescue (KSAR) Search Manager Alan Hobler says the stable funding is a welcome addition to their future.

“It is hard supporting SAR teams nowadays; the requirement on the SAR team is quite a bit more than it ever used to be with time and training requirements,” Hobler explains. “We just definitely need more help and this is a huge step in the right direction.”

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Kamloops in particular is taking operations to the next level and Hobler says KSAR is planning for long-term success with a new search hall already under construction and more to come.

“We’re looking at training and developing some of our specialty teams. We have a rope rescue team, we have a swift water rescue team — all of which requires a lot of equipment,” says Hobler. “We need new vehicles, too, and additions to some of our vehicles as well. So it’s going to probably support some of that as well, too.”

“Starting to take things to the next level, so it’s very exciting.”

The annual funding will begin in 2022 and 2023, supporting 79 search and rescue organizations around B.C. and more than 2,500 volunteer members.