Province’s search and rescue teams see second spike in calls during May

For a second time this month, B.C. search and rescue groups are seeing a spike in calls across the province, with a 45 per cent increase in calls between May 18 to 24.

According to information from B.C. Search and Rescue, 20 per cent of those calls took place on the May holiday Monday alone.

B.C.’s search and rescue groups reported a 35 per cent increase in calls during the first week of May, compared to the same time last year.

Their advice to those wishing to get out and enjoy the outdoors is to stay local, plan trips, train and take essential items when venturing out.

Kamloops Search and Rescue spokesperson Jenn Stahn says her organization is so far bucking the provincial trend, with only four calls since the beginning of April.

“I’ve noticed from numbers coming out of the Okanagan it’s been really busy there this week. It’s hard to say why. The Okanagan tends to dry up a bit quicker, maybe it’s because there are more outdoor opportunities, and more people,” Stahn says. “I’ve been using mountain biking trails in Kamloops since they opened, and they are being used. I guess people are being smart about it and listening to the message, which we certainly appreciate."

Stahn says April and May are generally slow in the Kamloops area, with incidents increasing in June through the summer.

Okanagan rescue teams answered 10 calls last week, according to data from B.C. Search and Rescue, including theses incidents:

  • Central Okanagan Search and Rescue responded to search for a 79 year old
  • Penticton and Okanagan fire department members assisted a kite boarder on Skaha Lake
  • Naramata and Penticton fire departments responded to a lake rescue on Okanagan Lake
  • Penticton Search and Rescue members rescued two people on the Arawana FSR behind Naramata
  • Central Okanagan and Vernon Search and Rescue members were called to rescue an injured hiker
  • Penticton Search and Rescue rescued an injured mountain biker near Skaha Bluffs
  • Penticton and Naramata fire departments responded to reports of a boat on fire on Okanagan Lake.
  • Penticton Search and Rescue responded to rescue an injured mountain biker at three Blind Mice
  • Central Okanagan Search and Rescue members responded to a vehicle down and embankment on Bear Lake Main in West Kelowna
  • Shuswap Search and Rescue responded to assist an injured quad rider in the Salmon Arm area

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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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