CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – 2018 was a busy year for the volunteer-operated Campbell River Search and Rescue.
According to the SAR’s release, the team responded to 54 calls in 2018.
The calls ranged from missing persons in wilderness environments, missing persons in urban areas, water rescues, medical rescues, and recovery of deceased subjects.
The Campbell River team was also involved in nine fatality calls in 2018.
Campbell River Search and Rescue is the northernmost team on the island, which means members are responsible for a large area. The team attends to calls from north of Oyster River, west to Gold River, and much of the inner islands and coastal mainland until Bella Coola.
The team stated in the release that calls for SAR groups are trending upward, which puts a strain on resources. Search and Rescue teams within the province have been negotiating with the government for a consistent and sustainable funding model.
Currently, the Campbell River SAR fundraise for their operations.
The team is encouraging residents to bring the essentials with them whenever they travel into the backcountry. Safe travel tips can be found at www.adventuresmart.ca and www.crsar.ca.
