Searchers find campers not people in distress

KELOWNA – Saturday night Central Okanagan Search and Rescue had a request from the RCMP for assistance in determining if some flashing red lights on Black Mountain were a distress signal.

COSAR responded to the scene with two personnel and one truck, to assist the RCMP.  Upon arrival the RCMP and COSAR could see the lights and after several attempts at voice communication and signalling with no response, it was decided that we would hike into the area and make sure everyone was okay.

Additional Resources of another COSAR response truck and an ATV team were requested to back up the initial response team that were  hiking into the area where COSAR and RCMP believed the lights were originating from.

After a brief 30 minute hike up some steep terrain, the two COSAR members and the RCMP member found the light source to be from a group of teenagers setting up camp. The red lights came from their ATV.

After talking to the teenagers and confirming there was no one in distress so we stood down our ATV team.  The responding members then returned to their vehicles.

The Central Okanagan Search and Rescue thanks that public for making the call to the RCMP when they see something unusual in the mountains as it could have been a true emergency in which people could have required our assistance.  In this case it was not.

Duane Tresnich CEM, CEMED
Vice President/Media Relations Contact
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue
Phone: 250-317-3069
Email: vicepresident@cosar.ca
Twitter: okrescue