Penticton Search & Rescue

A huge thank you to the Fraternal Order of Eagles for their generous support of Penticton Search and Rescue. We are incredibly grateful to receive a total donation of $4,250 from the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Contributions like these help us continue providing vital search and rescue services, training, and equipment for our community. The support of organizations like yours makes a real difference, and we truly appreciate your commitment to helping keep our community safe. Thank you for standing behind PenSAR! #pensar #pentictonsar #bcsar #fraternalorderofeagles

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible moms in our community and especially the moms on our PenSAR team. Thank you for everything you do, at home, at work, and out in the field. Your strength, compassion, and dedication never go unnoticed. Wishing all the moms out there a wonderful Mother’s Day from all of us at Penticton Search and Rescue. #pensar #pentictonsar #bcsar

✨ Task Update ✨ Yesterday, PenSAR responded to a call for an injured mountain biker in the Three Blind Mice trail network. An initial team moved in quickly to provide first aid, followed by additional ground teams and our heli team to support the rescue. The subject was safely long-lined out and transferred to BCEHS crews waiting at D’Angelo Estate Winery. A great reminder from this task: the subject’s riding partners used a space blanket to provide shade from the sun and protection from rotor wash, while also creating a highly visible marker from the air. Spotting the group through the trees took only seconds and helped speed up access to the scene. A huge thank you to Eclipse Helicopters and D’Angelo for your support and assistance during this task. Strong partnerships and quick-thinking bystanders help make successful outcomes possible. We’re wishing the rider a smooth and speedy recovery. #pensar #pentictonsar #searchandrescue

Monday night training was a meaningful one for PenSAR as we had the privilege of welcoming back a previous subject we assisted in a rescue out of the Skaha Bluffs. She took the time to share her story, her experience, and her appreciation for the team. We want to sincerely thank you for coming and speaking with us. Hearing firsthand from the people we help is incredibly valuable and reminds us why we train so hard and do what we do. Sharing these experiences helps us continue to learn, grow, and provide the best possible care and support when people need us most. Thank you again for taking the time to come back and share your journey with us. #pensar #pentictonsar #bcsar

This weekend, @pentictonsar conducted recurrency training with one of its two air carriers, Topflight Elite Training and Charter. The Class "D" Fixed Line team spent the day east of Penticton practicing technical insertions and extractions on @boostsystems in tandem, with an aerial rescue platform, and using taglines for complex terrain, where a trees and cliffs make it difficult to access and redirects are required. We were also excited to welcome two members of @coquitlamsar who were able to join for the day. Cross training among SAR teams strengthens BC's rescue community by facilitating the sharing of knowledge, experience, and familiarity with each other - making mutual aid calls across regions more efficient. This weekend follows recurrency training with PENSARs other air carrier, @eclipsehelicopters earlier in April. Its because of these partnerships that PENSAR is able to provide the services that it does. #pentictonsar #cdfl #sar #searchandrescue #penticton

Penticton & District Search and Rescue has successfully completed initial training in a newly approved operational capability that will drastically change their operational response capability going forward: night helicopter operations utilizing Night Vision Imaging Systems. This capability represents a significant advancement for volunteer search and rescue in Canada. The addition of NVIS enables crews to safely conduct aerial search, transport, and rescue operations in low- and no-light conditions, dramatically extending operational effectiveness beyond daylight hours. Topflight Elite Training and Charter had previously utilized NVIS to support PENSAR. While out on an unrelated night training exercise, PENSAR was concurrently searching for a lost hiker in the White Lake area. The hiker was located rapidly – within five minutes – instead of what could have been an hours long, overnight search. The initial training phase included classroom instruction, night vision goggle familiarization, and aerial search exercises focused on detecting visual indicators such as reflective materials, light sources, and mobile devices, as well as night-time hover entry/exit training. Due to the complexity associated with NVIS operations, the first cohort consisted of members with advanced experience in helicopter-based rescue. NVIS operations require specialized equipment, regulatory compliance, and extensive training for both aircrew and ground personnel. This milestone reflects years of collaboration and development at the provincial level, including Emergency Management and Climate Readiness BC, the @bcsarassoc Helicopter Operations Working Group, @northshorerescue @taloncopters and partner agencies. The introduction of NVIS capability is expected to be a transformative step in enhancing night-time SAR response and has been described as a “game-changer” by PENSAR members. PENSAR is a volunteer organization comprised of ~50 volunteer professionals that respond 24/7 to emergencies, supporting RCMP, municipal fire, BC Wildfire, government, BC Coroner, and BC EHS requests for support in searches, rescues, recoveries, and support evacuations during civil emergencies.

✨Training Day ✨ Another great Monday night training session for Penticton Search and Rescue. This week’s exercise had our Members-in-Training fully involved in a rescue scenario involving an injured mountain biker. It was a valuable hands-on learning opportunity for our MITs to build skills, gain confidence, and experience how real-world callouts can unfold. It was also a great chance for our experienced SAR members to work alongside and get to know our newer members as they continue their training journey. Strong teams are built through training, mentorship, and working together, and Monday night was a great example of that. #pensar #pentictonsar

Penticton and District Search and Rescue members were out at Skaha Beach this morning, introducing the ropes to apprentice swiftwater team members before their certification courses and entry onto the swiftwater team. Members began the day with familiarization of their personal gear on dry land and then in the water, followed by setting up the PENSAR rafts and taking them out for a paddle, including practicing flipping, recovery, and re-entry, and finally concluding with some throw bagging. Flat water provides a safe and convenient place for building knowledge and skills before applying them to swiftwater environments, where things quickly become much more technical. Thankfully, Penticton is well suited for that! Congrats to Cam, Devon, and Kyla on their apprenticeship to the PENSAR Swiftwater team! #searchandrescue #penticton #okanagan #sar #swiftwaterrescue

Another busy Monday night training for Penticton Search and Rescue. While our drone team had training in full swing, the rest of the team was out sharpening navigation skills, and even a few of our CDFL members were running a session of their own. We’re also proud to have a Drone Team this year. This is an exciting step forward for our group, and we’re looking forward to the added capabilities it will bring to future tasks and search efforts. #pensar #pentictonsar #penticton #pentictonbc

Yesterday, Penticton Search and Rescue held our Member-in-Training (MIT) Outdoor Skills Day down at Skaha Lake Park. Our new members stepped up to the challenge, working through essential GSAR skills in a hands-on environment while experienced members observed, guided, and supported throughout the day. It was a great opportunity to build confidence, develop skills, and continue growing as a team. A big thank you to all of our members who came out to lend their time, knowledge, and encouragement, it takes a strong team to build strong team members. With just a bit more training and their final exams ahead, our MITs are nearing the finish line, followed by their final overnight exercise coming up later this spring. And a special shoutout to Domino's Pizza for hooking us up with a great deal on pizzas to keep everyone fueled. #pensar #pentictonsar #bcsar

A big thank you to Abandoned Rail Brewing for supporting the Three Blind Mice 50 Trail Race! Their contribution goes beyond the race itself, helping create an awesome post-race atmosphere with bevvies, and hosting prizing at their location 🍻 It’s support like this that brings the community together and makes race day that much more memorable, all while backing Penticton Search and Rescue! We’re stoked to have them involved this year, be sure to stick around and celebrate after the race! #ThreeBlindMice50 #SupportLocal #Penticton #pentictonbc #pensar #PentictonSearchAndRescue

PenSAR members recently took to the skies for recurrent Class D Fixed Line (CDFL) training with @eclipsehelicopters Operating in the terrain we see year after year means working in tight, technical environments where precision matters. This training focused on advanced long line skills, including the use of tag lines to safely manage loads in confined and complex areas. To keep things as realistic as possible, we incorporated scenario-based training that reflects the types of situations we could face on real callouts. From challenging placements to dynamic problem-solving, members had the opportunity to sharpen both technical skills and decision-making under pressure. Training like this ensures our team stays ready, capable, and adaptable, no matter what the call demands. #penticton #pentictonbc #PenSAR #pentictonSAR #CDFL