(image credit - KSAR)

By Michael Reeve

NEW MEMBERS WANTED

Kamloops Search and Rescue looking to bolster its ranks

Mar 8, 2024 | 7:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops Search and Rescue is on the hunt for new volunteers to join their team.

Recruitment is now open for their fall 2024 Ground Search and Rescue class (GSAR), with an information session being held next Friday (March 15) for potential candidates to learn more. KSAR currently has 35 team members on the roster and are hoping to see that number closer to 50.

“The recruitment is open for this year. We have a GSAR course in the fall,” said KSAR Director Diana Gerlof. “The recruitment info session is to give people information about skills that we are looking for and about availability so they are better informed when they want to join up.”

Kamloops Search and Rescue gets called out for service to assist RCMP and other agencies when emergency calls come in. KSAR has teams trained for winter and avalanche rescues to water operations, rope-rescues and general back country searches for missing hikers or campers.

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While experience is appreciated, KSAR provides all the training needed to join up.

“The first year when you join, it’s going to be quite busy because of the GSAR course. The course is about 100 hours. The requirement to be a full GSAR member is about 150 hours per year, between callouts, training and all the other things that are needed to run the team,” added Gerlof.

(image credit – KSAR)