Powell River Search and Rescue Society has achieved major advancements this year, due to the dedication of its volunteer members and support from the community.
The group held a successful fundraising campaign to obtain a new command vehicle. As well, City of Powell River council agreed to transfer city-owned property in Cranberry for $1. The facility will be used as a training and operations centre.
However, both achievements require more support from the community. The command vehicle needs to be equipped with radios, emergency lighting, a front winch and other items. The new operations centre needs extensive renovations to transform it into a suitable facility. The organization is again looking to the community for financial and in-kind donations to support the work that needs to be done.
Search and rescue organizations throughout the province play an important role in saving people’s lives. They all rely on volunteers and community support. BC has 2,500 active search and rescue members, who respond to an average 1,200 calls a year. That number is on the rise as more people seek the health benefits of backcountry recreation and communities pursue outdoor recreation as a tourism attraction.
In Powell River, search and rescue members attended to 23 larger incidents from April 2012 to July 2013. In Squamish, the search and rescue organization has handled more than 60 requests for assistance so far this year, compared to an annual average of 50. In July, it handled 23 calls alone.
A prominent search and rescue member, Tim Jones of North Shore Rescue, has called for a new model for BC’s current system, because he says the current volunteer system is not sustainable. Jones, who has more than 30 years of service, says that volunteer search and rescue organizations can’t sustain the increasing volume of calls.
He has proposed three changes: standby pay for three to four core members in high-volume teams during busy months; dedicated helicopters for search and rescue assignments, similar to ones used to fight forest fires; and a provincial communications system that mirrors the forestry service.
While the proposed changes would cost millions of dollars, Jones says it’s worth it. He also points out there is currently an unseen cost, the volunteer hours that the province gets for free.
It appears that a thorough review of the service in BC is overdue. We hope the provincial government responds to Jones’ proposal and begins a conversation that will lead to more support for this vital service and the brave volunteers who risk their lives to save others.
