For Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR), 2024 was their second busiest year on record in their 70-year history.
Throughout the year, the group responded to 91 calls, which included:
- Seven mutual aid tasks;
- 10 lake rescues;
- 15 dementia-related searches;
- 13 snow-related rescues;
- 21 tasks involving the K9 team.
Additionally, RCMP requested COSAR91裸聊视频檚 assistance 73 times throughout the year, while BC Ambulance Services required support on 18 occasions. One of those incidents involved two body recoveries on Goats Peak Trail in West Kelowna.
The longest task lasted eight days, when they were looking for 79-year-old Alan Francescutti in the Dee Lake area. The effort involved search teams from the Southern Interior and West Kootenays. They used K9 units, ATVs, UTVs, drones, ground teams, kayaks, and the RCMP helicopter as part of their efforts.
For the first time since 2020, COSAR were not called to any fire or flood evacuation-related alerts or orders.
In total, COSAR's volunteers combined to work 17,931 hours - 3,821 hours on rescue tasks, 6,875 hours at community events, and 7,235 hours across 131 training sessions.
91裸聊视频淔or cases involving dementia, autism, or despondency, the sooner we get involved, the better the outcome," said COSAR's manager Duane Tresnich. "Remember, we don91裸聊视频檛 charge for rescues, and we91裸聊视频檙e available 24/7, year-round.91裸聊视频�
Also in 2024, COSAR was recognized for its efforts at the Tree of Hope light-up event. Each year, the Stober Foundation selects a community partner to help bring awareness to their cause. At the Nov. 23 event, Stober announced the 2024 partner was (COSAR) and donated $500,000 to the organization to help them continue their efforts across the Central Okanagan.
COSAR's busiest year occurred in 2022 when the organization responded to 107 call outs.
For 2025, COSAR currently has 55 general search and rescue (GSAR) members and three support members. It also has 17 operational members in training.
There is also ongoing efforts between the group, the City of Kelowna, and the Regional District of Central Okanagan to find and secure a new facility.
