Prince George Search and Rescue

‼️ Link in Bio! This Monday at 7 PM! Tune in to learn about Search and Rescue in BC! Different Region, Different Rescue: How SAR Response Varies Across BC SAR in British Columbia looks different depending on where you are. From coastal terrain to remote northern wilderness, each region presents unique challenges that shape how SAR teams respond. In this webinar, hear real-world insights into how geography, weather, access, and resources influence rescue operations across the province. This session also highlights key outdoor safety lessons for children, including the Hug a Tree and Survive program, helping youth stay safe and confident outdoors.

Task Update: Just before midnight on May 6th, PGSAR was activated to assist a group of three paddlers in distress on the Chilako River. The group encountered strainer logs that knocked them from their boats and left them stranded. Our Swiftwater team responded and successfully transported all subjects to safety. Everyone is home safe. ✅ 👏 We want to commend these paddlers for carrying a device capable of calling 911 this made a significant difference in getting help to them as quickly as possible. If you ever feel you need Search and Rescue support, always call 911. PGSAR is 100% volunteer-run and dispatched through emergency services. 🌊 With spring in full swing, we urge all river users to pay close attention to rapidly changing water conditions. Early season water levels can fluctuate dramatically what looks safe one day may not be the next. Before you head out, remember the Three T’s: 🗺️ Trip Planning: know your route, share it with someone, and check conditions 📚 Training: make sure your skills match the water you’re paddling 🎒 Take the Essentials: be prepared for the unexpected! Always wear a PFD! Stay safe out there, and enjoy our beautiful backcountry responsibly. 💙 #PGSAR #SearchAndRescue #SwiftwaterRescue #RiverSafety #PrinceGeorge Riverrescue

🔍 Training Day at West Lake! This past Saturday, Prince George Search and Rescue put our teams to the test with a full mock search and rescue exercise at West Lake. It was an incredible day of collaboration bringing together our Tracking, Swiftwater, RPAS/Drone, Mechanized, and Ground Search teams under one scenario. Joint exercises like this are where coordination is built and skills are sharpened and Saturday delivered on both fronts. Our teams worked seamlessly across disciplines, and the beautiful weather made for an ideal training environment. A huge thank you to every member and volunteer who showed up ready to work. The dedication and professionalism on display is exactly what makes PGSAR such an exceptional team. 💪 We train so we’re ready when it counts. 🚁🌲 #hypg #sar #bcsara #volunteer #princegeorge

It’s National Volunteer Week, and we couldn’t be more proud of our incredible team! Last year, 60 dedicated volunteers gave over 10,000 hours of their time to serve our community. That’s 10,000 hours of training, responding, and showing up so that when our neighbors need help most, we’re ready. It’s that commitment that allows us to bring a broad range of capabilities and skills to every search and rescue operation we undertake. To every one of our volunteers: thank you. What you do matters more than words can say. 🙏 #NationalVolunteerWeek #SearchAndRescue #PGSAR #hypg #sar

This past weekend 9 members of PGSAR brushed up on their chainsaw skills. This helps us access and extract subjects when the task calls for it.

❄️ Winter Survival Weekend! Last weekend, our Members in Training took on an overnight winter survival exercise in the Pine Pass area! 🏔️ They faced a tough combination of wet and rainy conditions throughout the day, before temperatures plummeted well below freezing overnight. Conditions like these are prime for hypothermia, demanding constant attention to clothing layers, smart gear management, and building solid shelter to stay as dry as possible. Our MITs rose to the challenge and came out the other side stronger and more prepared than ever. 💪 They’ve now completed the final stretch of their GSAR course congratulations to all Members in Training pushing through to the finish line! We’re stoked to have you joining us. 🙌 #SAR #SearchAndRescue #PGSAR #WinterSurvival #PinePass

@tourismpg “FOOTS” the Bill on AED Procurement for PGSAR! Thanks to the incredible support of our Prince George community, we’ve raised enough to move forward with updating and procuring a brand new AED! 💛 This is a HUGE step for us. Having Standardized equipment means our team can now train consistently and confidently so when it matters most, we’re ready. The procurement process is officially underway, and we’ll keep you posted once complete. Stay tuned! 📡 A massive thank you to Tourism PG and everyone who made this possible. This is what community looks like. 🙌 #PGSAR #PrinceGeorge #SearchAndRescue #CommunitySupport #AED

A huge thank you to everyone who supported the Mr. PG socks fundraiser for @princegeorgesar 🙏 You helped to raise $2,195 to support the amazing volunteers who help to keep our community safe 💛 #TakeOnPG #ExplorePrinceGeorge #pgsar

🚨 Avalanche Awareness – Heading Into the Weekend 🚨 As we head into another busy winter weekend, Prince George Search and Rescue (PGSAR) wants to remind everyone travelling in the backcountry—whether you’re riding, skiing, or snowshoeing—to plan ahead and be prepared. ✅ Pack the essentials ✅ Leave a trip plan with a trusted friend (where you’re going, when you’re leaving, and when you expect to be back) ✅ Carry gear you know how to use, including: • Fire‑starting supplies • Insulation and layers to stay warm • Reliable access to water • A communication device to call for help On February 23, PGSAR hosted an Avalanche Awareness Night in collaboration with @overhang.pg @ruckuspg @trenchbrewing @avcannorthrockies @pgbackcountryrec and the Caledonia Ski Club. The evening focused on safety in avalanche terrain and featured multiple guest speakers, followed by an hour of hands‑on transceiver training at the avalanche transceiver park. We were thrilled to see approximately 50 people come out to learn, practice, and build skills it was a great night and a strong reminder of how important education is in the backcountry. With recent shifting weather conditions, there has been a high number of avalanches across the province in recent weeks. Proper planning, current conditions checks, and the right gear can make all the difference when heading into avalanche terrain. Be sure to check our bio for a link to a recent CBC interview with PGSAR member Dave Merritt, where he discusses avalanche safety and conditions in BC this year. Stay safe, plan ahead, and look out for one another. Prince George Search and Rescue Special thanks to evanduxmedia for capturing these photos! #AvalancheAwareness #BackcountrySafety #PGSAR #PlanPrepareSurvive AvalancheCanada

PGSAR assisted our Neighbours in Quesnel SAR last night on a dynamic and complex task. We are thankful for the assistance of the Royal Canadian Airforces 442 Squadron. Avalanche conditions are tricky around the province make sure to check out Avalanche Canada for forecasting before heading out. Please see the quote below from Quesnel SARs media team about the task: “This afternoon, Quesnel Search & Rescue was deployed to assist a snowmobile operator who had become separated from his party and trapped in a large drainage deep within avalanche terrain. Collaborating with avalanche safety experts from Prince George Search and Rescue, the team drafted an on-the-ground plan to address the “Considerable” avalanche risk in the Alpine. To mitigate the danger of exposing more volunteer personnel to the hazard, a request was made for the Royal Canadian Air Force 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron from Comox. This specialized resource is reserved for high-risk missions, and we are grateful they accepted the task. We commend the subject’s riding party for their vital role in maintaining communication and monitoring his location for several hours. The subject had a two-way radio with them which served as a lifeline. When venturing into the backcountry be sure to have an emergency signalling device, a means to keep warm, and appropriate avalanche safety gear if riding in avalanche terrain. Thank you to all who were involved in this rescue. When the call comes in SAR volunteers step up to serve our community. Avalanche Canada North Rockies Avalanche Canada Royal Canadian Mounted Police”

Huge thank you, Prince George! ❤️🧦 3 days left to support PGSAR through the sock sale! Your incredible support of Mr. PG sock sales this February has made a real impact for Prince George Search and Rescue. Because of your purchases, we’re excited to share that proceeds from this month’s sales will go directly toward upgrading our aging AEDs and ensuring both of our response trucks are equipped with two new ZOLL AED units. These lifesaving devices are critical tools for our volunteers whether we’re responding in the backcountry or supporting events here in our community. Your support helps us stay prepared when seconds matter most. There are still a few days left in February to grab your pair! You can purchase socks at the Tourism Prince George Visitor Centre, located at Canada Games Way beneath the library in the Civic Centre. Let’s finish the month strong and continue showing what makes this community so special. 💛 #PGSAR #PrinceGeorgeBC #CommunityStrong #MrPGSocks

Be searchable! Today, PGSAR put into service a new helicopter-mounted RECCO detector, the third in British Columbia, and sixth such device in Canada. What does this detector do? The RECCO detector sends out a directional radio wave that reflects off passive (unpowered) RECCO reflectors commonly found in ski clothing, boots, and an assortment of outdoor equipment. When a lost person is known or suspected to have a RECCO reflector on them, we can employ this technology to search a wide swath of terrain in significantly less time than traditional ground searching. While having a RECCO reflector does not replace leaving a detailed trip plan, bringing essential safety and communications equipment, and being prepared in case of an emergency, adding RECCO to your kit increases options for SAR finding you if you are lost. PGSAR is excited to add this tool to our toolbox, bringing RECCO search capabilities to northern British Columbia. Recco Advanced Rescue Technology BC AdventureSmart