Rendering of the proposed KSAR and KFR Facility on Devick Road in Rayleigh. (Image Credit: TNRD)

By Aaron Schulze

Kamloops Search and Rescue

TNRD board to debate borrowing up to $6.3M for joint search-and-rescue, fire station in Rayleigh

Jan 19, 2026 | 8:45 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) is looking to the alternative approval process (AAP) to fund its share of the cost of a new purpose-built headquarters for Kamloops Search and Rescue.

During Thursday’s (Jan. 22) regular meeting, the TNRD’s board of directors will decide whether to begin the process of seeking public approval to borrow up to $6.3 million to build a joint facility, which will also house a new Kamloops Fire Rescue (KFR) station.

According to TNRD staff report, the estimated cost of the proposed facility at 4420 Devick Rd. is $9.45 million. The City of Kamloops will cover around $2.36 million – and provide the property in Rayleigh – while KSAR will cover another $1.4 million.

While the TNRD’s share of the cost is around $5.69 million, the report recommends the TNRD include a 10 per cent contingency, bringing the regional district’s share to $6.3 million.

(Image Credit: TNRD)

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In June last year, the TNRD voted to jointly fund, own, and operate the new facility, which will replace the existing Kamloops Fire Station No. 5 located next to the Tolko mill in Rayleigh.

“The Regional Search and Rescue service is presently funded only as a grant-in-aid service, with no capital assets or reserves allocated to it,” the report said. “Since the TNRD has no capital reserves suitable for this project or dedicated funding streams, the TNRD’s capital contribution will need to be funded through long-term borrowing.”

To proceed with an AAP, the TNRD needs approval by a two-thirds majority from participating electoral areas. If the resolution passes, the TNRD says the report and bylaws will be sent to member municipalities and staff will submit a request for approval to B.C.’s Inspector of Municipalities.

Under an AAP, if 10 per cent of eligible voters within the TNRD oppose borrowing within a 30-day window, the regional district would be forced to either launch a referendum within 80 days after the AAP deadline or kill the initiative.

The TNRD says the estimated annual budget for capital borrowing and operating costs for the proposed facility is $622,143 for 20 years – which would result in a residential tax rate of nearly $1.11 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

After 20 years, the taxation for debt repayment will end, meaning only operating costs will require ongoing funding from taxation.

TNRD staff are also recommending a maximum of $100,000 to cover its portion of the operating costs. The City will cover operating costs for the KFR portion of the facility, while shared operating costs will be divided 25 per cent to the City and 75 per cent to the TNRD.

All KSAR-related expenses (training, deployments, equipment, etc.) will be covered by KSAR.

Estimated TNRD tax impact by property class (Image Credit: TNRD)

KSAR needs a new home

While the City of Kamloops provides KSAR with a facility at Mission Flats, the search-and-rescue group is looking for a more spacious place to call home. The TNRD notes that KSAR approached the board of directors for help in establishing a new purpose-built search-and-rescue facility in 2023.

KSAR was previously required to vacate its location at the end of January 2025. However, KSAR President Paula Davies said the city has agreed to allow them to remain in place until the new headquarters is ready.

Preliminary drawings show the proposed headquarters will have five equipment bays for KSAR and two for KFR. There will also be a training room, kitchen, board room, office, locker room, washrooms, as well as laundry and storage space.

According to the TNRD, the proposed facility would also act as a training centre to support other search and rescue groups within the regional district.

“In 2024, the TNRD Board received letters of support for a dedicated facility for KSAR from all other search and rescue groups that operate within the TNRD (Wells Gray, Barriere, Logan Lake, Merritt and South Cariboo),” the report said.

“The facility will also be used for the delivery of other emergency training courses and could function as a backup Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for the TNRD if required.”

– With files from Victor Kaisar/CFJC Today