Kamloops Search and Rescue (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

KSAR

Record-breaking year for Kamloops Search and Rescue in 2024

Jan 3, 2025 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — A slew of calls out to Sun Peaks throughout December wrapped up a record-breaking year for the team at Kamloops Search and Rescue (KSAR).

“We’ve had a lot of technical rescues, so we had about 10 swift water searches, we’ve had 16 searches that involved K9 handlers and their dogs, we’ve had seven rope rescue searches, 44 ground searches and about seven winter rescue searches,” stated KSAR President Paula Davies.

In total, KSAR was called out 75 times last year, with more than 70 per cent of calls coming from the RCMP. Kamloops also spent significant time providing mutual aid throughout the province.

“Summers happen to be our busiest season but we see skiers and snowmobilers in the wintertime. But I believe July happens to be the most busy season,” stated Davies.

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KSAR has seen a marked increase in calls relating to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. With seven calls in 2024, it’s a trend Davies anticipates may continue to climb.

“I think a lot of SAR teams in B.C. are seeing that trend and it is difficult because it seems like these seniors with dementia seem to disappear into thin air. And they often result in multi-day searches looking for them and sometimes without a conclusion,” said Davies.

Davies noted KSAR brought 11 new members into the fold last year, bringing its total to 43. The organization is hoping to find a few new bodies to join the team this spring.

“Our goal is… to get 50 members. And it’s not all ground search and rescue members or ground pounding members — we need people for support. We need people who are willing to do mapping on computers, do radio communications, administration, legal,” listed Davies.

Kamloops Search and Rescue was able to save the lives of 16 people in 2024, said Davies.