Central Okanagan Search & Rescue

We would like to thank Lake Country Pest Control for their support!

They have generously supported COSAR with top-notch pest control in our “barn” where we store our gear and machines. They provide professional pest control services to homes and businesses in the Okanagan Valley.

Please help us show our thanks by calling 250-808-3552 or their website at https://lakecountrypestcontrol.com

Well done Squamish SAR. You guys deserve it!

We did it Squamish!!!

To everyone who voted for us from Squamish, Sea to Sky, and beyond along with the Search and Rescue communities across the country, we are overwhelmed with gratitude. It was truly a team effort.

Winning the Defender 130 is a game-changer, enhancing our response capabilities to reach even further and more remote places.

We want to recognize all of the other finalists in the Defender Service Awards. Being given the opportunity to have met all of you in Texas and learning about your dedication to your various causes was incredibly inspiring. We have the utmost respect for all that you do.

This victory is dedicated to all who believe in our mission.

COSAR was honoured to take part in today’s Remembrance Day ceremonies. Least we forget

Lets kick off winter 2023-24 together! Our BC AdventureSmart winter series is up and live

Our WINTER SERIES line up is here!

ANNOUNCING 10 special events, 13 unique guests and sponsored (with sweet swag 🎁 ) by 7 outdoor organizations tagged below!

Your successful winter starts with us @ BC AdventureSmart!

Nov. 22, 2023
Be Searchable! with Recco Advanced Rescue Technology

Nov. 30, 2023
Trauma in the Mountains with Mountain Muskox Mentorship

Dec. 7, 2023
Recognizing Avalanche Terrain with Avalanche Canada

Dec. 14, 2023
Canada West Mountain School Winter Perspectives

Jan. 11, 2024
Event to be announced soon

Jan. 25, 2024
BC Parks Winter Perspectives

Feb. 1, 2024
Mount Revelstoke and Glacier national parks, Parks Canada Winter Perspectives

February 15, 2024
Destination British Columbia + Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) Winter Perspectives

Feb. 29, 2024
Emergency Evacuations with Pets with Backcountry Aid and Rescue Kit - BARK

Mar. 7, 2024
Leave No Trace Principles with Leave No Trace Canada

Canada West Mountain School Recco Advanced Rescue Technology FATMAP Backcountry Aid and Rescue Kit - BARK Helly Hansen Rogers BrightSource Lighting



⤵️ REGISTER HERE ⤵️
https://bcsara.com/outdoor-education/events/

Wise words from Amos and Coralie

Search and rescue urging people to be cautious during transition from fall to winter | Globalnews.ca While it's always best to be prepared in the outdoors, COSAR says it's especially important at this time of year, as weather can change quickly leading to unexpected conditions.

Check out Adventure Smarts new hub!

Explore new possibilities with Adventure Hub With more than 450 listings, check out BCSARA's Adventure Hub before heading out to ensure a safe, fun outing!

The annual COSAR Pumpkin Patrol will be at the lake country annual Halloween bonfire and fireworks tonight starting at 630 handing out candy. Please come by, say hi and check out our gear

Another great night of training Thursday at COSARs full team scenario. Thanks to all those who came out and the two volunteer subjects

If you’re a solid rider and know the trails, email Chris!

💥Search and Rescue Volunteers 💥

THANK YOU to those who have jumped on board to be involved with Okanagan Search and Rescue and KSC when a Rescue call is made. We are still looking for a couple more who are experienced riders and confident riding at night. Please contact Chris if you have any questions or would like to hop on board!

👉EMAIL: [email protected]

Final two days for those voting for Squamish Search and Rescue. Get your votes in and help win a Landrover for one of BC’s busiest teams!

Hang in there folks, voting ends tomorrow!! 😅

Please continue voting for us at:
https://www.landrover.ca/en/experiences/sponsorship/defender-service-awards/vote/search-and-rescue.html

Thank you!

Congratulations to Cosar’s K9 duo, Chase and Barrett for their recent successful validations with the RCMP Police Dog Services last week at the BC Search Dog Association's fall course in Merritt. Chase successfully renewed his wilderness search credentials for the 4th time and Barrett completed his tracking validation for the first time as one of only six SAR K9’s in the province with both wilderness and tracking credentials under the RCMP National Civilian SAR K9 standard. Many (or even thousands) of hours of training goes into ensuring these furry team members keep their skills sharp and ready to assist when needed by not only COSAR but also any of the 78 SAR teams in the province. There are a total of 28 certified SAR K9’s under the RCMP program and we are fortunate to have two on the COSAR team.

Big shout out to the K9 teams, including ours!

Found!

UPDATE - FOUND
We are pleased to inform that after a long search that covered 6 operational periods the 67 year-old man from PG that was reported missing has been located, and is safe and sound. A big thank you to our neighboring SAR teams, the RCMP, CASARA, and everyone else who assisted in the search. This positive outcome is due to an extensive effort from many people, most of which are unpaid volunteers. (DG)

Some great video resources here

BC AdventureSmart Outdoor Education Video Library Welcome to your one-stop shop for outdoor education, season and sport specific resources + online special events.

Thursday is COSAR’s training night, and the team spent the evening familiarizing ourselves with the Boulderfields climbing area and the Gillard mountain bike trails. To keep things interesting, various “clues“ were scattered in the area for the teams to find. Huge shout out to Barrett and the K9 team for locating these pants, off trail and hung on the far side of a tree. Happy belated birthday Barrett and good work.

Tonight Central Okanagan Search & Rescue will be going door to door if McDougall Creek fire alerts are upgraded to evacuation orders to ensure that everyone gets out safe.

As winds can quickly change, every moment will count- please be prepared to leave if they knock on your door.

After the historic events of the last few days, I want to give a shout out to our crew.
Last Thursday morning our search manager met with the West Kelowna police and fire departments to see how COSAR could be of service.
A few hours later water bombers spotted a tent on the summit of Carrot Mountain about five km from the McDougall Creek fire. A team was sent up to evacuate the camp.
At 4 pm the call went out to assist with issuing evacuation orders in West Kelowna. As well, the boat team was dispatched to aid in possible evacuations by water and both Vernon and Penticton SAR teams were called in to assist evacuating Clifton/Magic Estates and the West side simultaneously.
We had five teams working ahead of the flames, but one West Kelowna team got cut off by the fire and had to use Westside Rd. to Vernon to get home. They arrived at 4 am with some of them returning to their paying jobs five hours later.
Four hours later the team was back at it issuing evac orders in Lake Country, Quails Ridge, Glenmore and West Kelowna.
Our ground teams were paused on Saturday but the boat team remained on Okanagan Lake keeping curious boaters away from the water bombers.
In all, almost 30 COSAR members volunteered nearly 1,000 hours over the three days, giving between 2500 and 3000 evacuation orders.

Over the past few days, more than two dozen COSAR members, with support from our colleagues from Vernon and Penticton SAR, have volunteered nearly 1000 hours helping local authorities fight the McDougall Creek, Clifton/McKinley and Lake Country fires. With winds calming down, officials are hitting the fire hard trying to get the upper hand.

Another West Kelowna evacuation alert

More here:

https://www.cordemergency.ca/updates/mcdougall-crk-evacuation-alert-casa-loma-fri-08182023-1735

Properties in the City of West Kelowna’s Casa Loma neighbourhood have been placed on EVACUATION ALERT. Residents under EVACUATION ALERT must be ready to leave their homes at a moment’s notice, be prepared to be away from their homes for an extended period of time, make arrangements for pets and pack essential items such as medicines and important documents.

https://www.cordemergency.ca/updates/mcdougall-crk-evacuation-alert-casa-loma-fri-08182023-1735

Our teams have been pulled out of Westside Road after issuing 700+ evacuation orders. Teams have been deployed back to Rose Valley area. Follow Central Okanagan EOC for the official word

If you receive an Order, keep yourself and your community safe by following it.
Choosing to remain in an area under Evacuation Order puts yourself, your loved ones, and first responders in danger. It’s not worth the risk.
For more information: cordemergency.ca

Our teams are out in the field issuing evacuation orders. Please go to Central Okanagan Emergency Operations for detailed info

143 properties in the Bartley Road area and 620 properties in the Rose Valley area of West Kelowna are now under Evacuation Order due the McDougall Creek Wildfire. Tactical evacuation is already underway.
Evacuees should register online at https://ess.gov.bc.ca/ or attend the Information Centre at Royal LePage Place, 2760 Cameron Road in West Kelowna.
Evacuees are encouraged to connect with friends and family for temporary accommodations. Those unable to find local accommodations can visit the ESS Reception Centre to access group lodging.
A public information line is available at 250-469-8490 (local) or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free).
For more information: https://www.cordemergency.ca/updates/evacuation-orders-expanded-bartley-road-and-rose-valley-thu-08172023-1724

They’re calling for temps in the 35C-37C range this week

Parts of BC might experience higher than normal temperatures in the coming days.

☀️ 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞: PreparedBC.ca/ExtremeHeat
☀️ Learn if you are eligible for a free air conditioner unit or rebate: https://ow.ly/VHOX50PvcAE
☀️ Find a cooling centre near you

It was a busy long weekend for the Central Okanagan search and rescue.
Saturday COSAR was called out twice.
The first call from the Kelowna RCMP was for a disoriented mountain biker on the kettle valley railway.
The rider had been dropped off at the bottom of June Springs Rd with the intention of mountain biking to the KVR and then home to Penticton.
However the rider was ill prepared as he did not take any water with him and became dehydrated and disoriented.
COSAR responded with 9 members and brought him out to a waiting ambulance.
The male was checked and released by BCEHS.
Search Manager Duane Tresnich would like to remind riders to ensure they are properly prepared for the heat.
Go to AdventureSmart.ca for more information


Later Saturday night COSAR was called to assist BCEHS at Oyama Lake Lodge.
A male had fallen from a deck at one of the cabins on the far side of the lake and needed to be transported to a waiting ambulance.

Sunday, COSAR’s dog team was called out for a mutual aid call assisting Penticton Search and Rescue in looking for a missing man in the Cawston area.

Excellent work

COSAR team rescues injured rock climber after 30 foot fall from John Family Park Cliffs - Kelowna News A rock climber who was injured after a 30-foot fall from the Kelowna Crags in the Johns Family Nature Conservancy Regional Park is now recovering thanks to the help and coordination of emergency service teams.

Nice work team. Hoping for a speedy recovery for the subject

Injured cyclist rescued after spill on Kettle Valley Railway trail - Kelowna News An injured mountain biker was rescued from the Kettle Valley Railway trail near Kelowna Monday afternoon.

The team was busy this weekend. Well done

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue had a very busy long weekend - Kelowna News The weekend was a long one for Central Okanagan Search and Rescue with six separate calls in three nights.

It was 12 years ago today, June 29th, that Nelson Search and Rescue volunteer Sheilah Sweatman died while on a swift water response on the Goat River near Creston, B.C. Sheilah was only 29 years old at the time of her death. In her honor, we named COSAR’s 32 foot landing craft, The Sweatman.

Five members of COSAR were asked to join Chute Lake Elementary School’s community carnival on Friday. We answered a ton of questions and introduced Hug a Tree but we were especially honoured to be in the “Community Heros” section with Kelowna RCMP and Kelowna Fire Department

Shout out to the McCurdy Mr. L**e for keeping our gear operational

Great support for VSAR from the Regional District of the North Okanagan

Vernon Search and Rescue members unveil new headquarters - Okanagan | Globalnews.ca Vernon Search and Rescue headquarters are moving after long outgrowing their building on Aberdeen Road.

Thursday night is training night at COSAR and last night we were at Smith Creek.
It was a multi-team practice session using the E bike team, ATVs, UTV, and first aid.
Of course we were also practising ICS and using the West Kelowna gear cache.
As an added bonus, the rain cleared up the air quality.

COSAR hosted the 243 Ogopogo Squadron at our hall on Wednesday night. They were given a tour, asked lots of questions and hopefully some will volunteer with us in a few years