The new facility gives the SAR volunteer team a place to store and maintain equipment indoors.
North Peace Search and Rescue (NPSAR) is ready for winter after moving into a new facility in Fort St. John that will improve equipment management and volunteer training.
"Before, it was outside in the cold, in the snow, and in the dirt," said NPSAR president Brian Lamond about their previous setup.
NPSAR volunteers receive training for specialty rescues, including those involving helicopters. The new hall on 100 Avenue enables faster deployments, better gear storage, and keeps vehicles protected from the cold.
Serving northeast B.C., the volunteer group responds to mutual-aid calls in Fort Nelson, the Northern Rockies, Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, and Tumbler Ridge, covering hundreds of kilometres of wilderness.
This year, NPSAR has received 27 service calls, up from the average of 20 to 25. Lamond noted a shift in focus from searching to rescuing, with incidents involving snowmobiles, off-road vehicles, swift water, rope rescue, and tracking.
- Tom Summer (CBC)
