Busy summer for rescue group SARSAR

The Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue Society (SARSAR) has had an eventful summer, marked by an increase in training, rescue operations, and new equipment acquisitions.

“We’ve had a busy season of training and callouts this year,” said Kara Kulak, secretary-treasurer of the society, in an email, “In the spring, our new members completed their Search and Rescue (SAR) Basics course, which included an in-person skills day with helicopter basics such as safety training and aerial search tactics.”

Ten members of SARSAR’s Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) also completed a five-day technical rope rescue course with Raven Rescue, supported by SAR Alberta. They practiced hover exits from helicopters, a safety technique for entering and exiting a running helicopter that hovers just above the ground.

SARSAR made significant strides in expanding its technology this year. 

“With federal funding, we purchased a thermal drone and trained five members to Transport Canada certification levels,” said Kulak, “This will be a valuable tool in our search tactics.”

When asked about notable rescues this summer, Kulak highlighted a few key operations. 

“Some memorable calls this year included assisting six lost hikers on Table Mountain and rescuing an injured person from the Window Mountain Lake area after a wildlife attack,” she said, “We also responded to a few fatalities, which are always incredibly tough. But our team takes solace in helping to bring closure to families.”

The increase in SAR calls has been a noticeable trend. 

“In 2023, we more than doubled our rolling five-year average for calls, and this year, we broke our call volume record for the second year in a row,” said Kulak. 

She attributes this rise to the growing awareness of SAR services and the increased recreational activities in the area. 

“We’ve seen a heightened need for local mountain and helicopter rescue capacity,” she added, “Many of the calls we responded to wouldn’t have been possible if we had to wait for external agencies.”

Most of this summer’s calls involved lost or injured hikers, and the team faced significant challenges, especially when calls came in late in the day or at night. 

“After dark, our response options become limited, which can delay rescue efforts and lead to negative outcomes,” Kulak explained, “We encourage the public to call us as early as possible when they need help.”

SARSAR’s summer operations were also impacted by weather and terrain challenges, but the team is well-prepared for these conditions. 

“We train in a variety of weather and terrain throughout the season, and as the days shorten, our training also takes place in the dark,” said Kulak, “We have a robust winter program as many of our members are professional avalanche workers, which allows us to respond in any conditions.”

To ensure their team remains well-prepared, SARSAR conducts regular training sessions. 

“Our general team has training once a month, with additional sessions for specialty teams. These focus on specific skills and are often scenario-based to mimic typical callouts,” Kulak noted.

The society has made significant upgrades to its equipment this year, thanks to a modernization grant from the federal government. 

“We’ve updated our callout system and purchased digital equipment like iPads, Starlink internet, and portable power,” Kulak said. 

They also completed their Helicopter Sling Rescue Project with support from the Community Initiatives Program. 

“This was a substantial investment for our team and allowed us to fully establish our helicopter rescue capacity.”

Additionally, the society received a corporate donation for a Polaris side-by-side and trailer, equipped with support from the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad. 

“This new tool has already been used several times this summer,” Kulak shared.

Collaboration with other organizations played a crucial role in SARSAR’s success. 

“The RCMP is our primary tasking agency, but we also work with local fire departments, EMS, and wildland fire teams,” she said.

As summer winds down, SARSAR is preparing for fall and winter. 

“Our heli-sling rescue team has been completing its annual recertification, and we’re working on acquiring grants to purchase team-owned snowmobiles for winter ground response,” Kulak said. 

The society will also open applications for new members in the fall. Looking ahead, SARSAR has more training planned. 

“Our helicopter sling rescue team will be training in Fernie later this month, and we’re participating in winter avalanche awareness work with the ‘Crow Snow Riders’ in November,” Kulak added.

For those interested in supporting SARSAR, the organization is fully volunteer-run and relies on donations, grants, and municipal support. 

“We encourage people to visit our website or follow us on social media for more information,” Kulak said.