Sparwood Search and Rescue

03/02/2026

Today on Search and Rescue Volunteer Memorial Day, we honour and remember Search and Rescue Volunteers who have died in the line of duty. Thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve so that others may live.

Today, March 2 2026, has been proclaimed as Search and Rescue Volunteer Memorial Day by the Province of British Columbia. This is the ninth anniversary of the unveiling of the monument on the rear lawn of the parliament buildings in Victoria, alongside memorials to Law Enforcement, Paramedics, and Firefighters near the Emergency Services Memorial Gardens. A wreath laying will take place shortly after noon today, everyone is welcome to observe, please form up by 11:30 am. Please take any opportunity to thank air, marine and ground SAR volunteers for all they do so others may live.

12/27/2025

The mountains are absolutely flexing right now and the snowpack is questionable. Avalanche Canada is flagging a deep persistent weak layer in the Elkford area consisting of a prominent crust with about 10 cm of facets on top, buried 120 to 180 cm deep in terrain above 1800 m. If that layer gets triggered, the consequences would be very severe. On top of that, recent snowfall and wind have been building reactive wind slabs at upper elevations, so the snowpack is not the place you push your luck this weekend.

If you are heading out this weekend, your pack should include at minimum
Transceiver
Shovel
Probe
Extra layers and food
Emergency shelter
Navigation tools
A charged phone or InReach
And a plan that includes more than just “send it”

Before you even start the truck, check the full avalanche forecast at https://avalanche.ca/map and the local weather for your zone. Conditions change fast and yesterday’s good decision does not automatically renew.

When the snowpack is feeling spicy, the smart move is conservative terrain. Avoid steep wind loaded slopes, move one at a time through exposed areas, communicate clearly with your group, and pay attention when the snow starts giving you red flags instead of compliments.

Go chase the views and the turns. Leave the sketch behind. Don’t be afraid to tell your group “nope, not today.” Ride safe, laugh hard, make memories your knees will complain about, and make decisions that get you back into town with big smiles, full hearts, and zero phone calls to explain why you pushed it too far.

09/23/2025

Due to the ongoing search in the Crowsnest Pass, our open house has been postponed. Please watch this page for a new date in the future.

07/25/2025

If you have seen these people or their vehicle, please contact the Kimberley RCMP by phone at 250-427-4811

06/17/2025

An important message from our neighbours at Sparwood Towing. Whether it’s a tow truck, highway maintenance, or emergency vehicle; you must slow down (and move over if safe to do so) for any official vehicle stopped at the side of the road with flashing amber, red, and/or blue lights. It isn’t a suggestion or a courtesy, it’s required by law.

And if any emergency vehicle with flashing red lights and siren is approaching you, from either direction, you must pull to the side of the road and stop.

Please do your part as a driver to keep roadside workers and emergency responders safe.

While one of our drivers was loading a smashed vehicle on Highway 3 this evening, barely any traffic slowed down. And some were within INCHES of him - at 100+ km/hr. To the few vehicles and heavy trucks that did make an effort—thank you, we see you and we ALWAYS appreciate you. To the rest: when our driver hit the air horn at you, sorry, not sorry. SLOW DOWN. Just slow the hell down. We will continue to draw attention to those NOT slowing down.

At Sparwood Towing, our team comes first. We strive to be professional, but we’re done tolerating reckless drivers. We’re moving forward with dash cams and working with Elk Valley RCMP and CVSE to report those who ignore the LAW to slow down.

We’re not playing. As the weather gets warmer and highways get busier, driving habits are worsening. Protect our team. Slow down. Move Over.

News flash - if you hit a worker, or vehicle on the side of the road, you WILL be delayed more than the extra 35 seconds it takes to slow down to at least 70 as you pass us 😉

Feel free to share this! We are ALWAYS advocating for ALL tow truck operators. Near and far. Tow lives matter. ❤️

06/03/2025

Sparwood SAR would like to give a very big THANK YOU to Finning Canada for donating the proceeds from the BBQ at the 2025 East Kootenay Mining Industrial Safety Association Mine Rescue Competition to us. Community support like this is wonderful!

04/08/2025

Sparwood SAR will be at the Sparwood Showcase on Wednesday! Have questions about how SAR works, how to activate SAR, or volunteering? Stop in and say hello!

03/05/2025

Over the past few days, members of Sparwood SAR, Kimberley Search and Rescue, and Cranbrook Search and Rescue joined forces at our annual WinterEx 5-day backcountry training exercise. It's an opportunity to learn from each other and practice skills and scenarios together. Members practiced snowmobile riding, ski touring and routefinding, treewell rescue, subject transport, RECCO detection, and some scenarios. Exercises like this not only improve individual skills, but ensure our teams work together smoothly when the need arises.

02/27/2025

With recent precipitation, persistent layers, and warm temperatures, there's a Special Public Avalanche Warning in effect this weekend for our area. Highlights from the SPAW:

After a season of relatively stable avalanche conditions, we are entering a period of dramatic change and it is important to adapt mindsets to reflect this. Avalanche problems of this nature can be difficult to predict and there may be limited clues about deeper snowpack instabilities, but avalanches triggered on these layers are likely to be dangerous and destructive.

To manage these challenging conditions, it is essential that backcountry users choose conservative terrain and use good travel habits.

- Choose slopes less than 30 degrees in clearings, open trees, and alpine terrain
- Maintain disciplined decision making and remember that danger may not be obvious
- Avoid sun-exposed slopes during warm or sunny conditions
- Move one at a time through avalanche terrain and regroup in safe spots without overhead hazard

A Special Public Avalanche Warning is in effect for most forecast regions across BC and Alberta until March 3. A cohesive slab of snow 30 - 100 cm thick is sitting over weak layers in the snowpack and causing dangerous avalanche conditions. Learn more at avalanche.ca

Un avertissement spécial d'avalanche est en vigueur pour la plupart des régions de prévision de la Colombie-Britannique et de l'Alberta jusqu'au 3 mars. Une plaque de neige cohésive de 30 à 100 cm d'épaisseur repose sur les couches fragiles du manteau neigeux et cause des conditions avalancheuses dangereuses. Apprenez-en davantage sur avalanche.ca

01/27/2025

Many people still believe they’ll be billed for search and rescue, or that they need to wait a certain time to report someone missing. Neither of these are true!

SAR volunteers are much happier to be called early on and stood down if not needed, rather than being called too late.

🚨 REMEMBER: Search & Rescue in BC is ALWAYS FREE OF CHARGE!

Don't hesitate - call 911 immediately if someone is overdue or missing. Every minute counts when it comes to saving lives.

Whether you're hiking, skiing, or exploring the outdoors, BC's 3,400+ volunteer search and rescue members are here to help. We respond to 1,800+ calls annually - from urban searches to wilderness rescues.

Your safety is our priority. Never let the fear of cost delay your call for help.

01/07/2025

While a team of Sparwood SAR members were out on the weekend doing snowmobile training and trail familiarization, they came across a party of snowmobilers with a member who had been injured while riding in the area. Our members were able to provide first aid, move the injured person to an area where weather conditions would permit a helicopter flight, and arrange to have him evacuated to the care of BC Ambulance with the help of Fernie Search and Rescue and Ascent Helicopters Ltd

Thanks as well to Fernie Snowmobile Association for providing great facilities and trails to help facilitate safe backcountry recreation. For more information on planning for your safe outdoor adventures, follow BC AdventureSmart

And don't forget, there is no charge for Search and Rescue in BC so if you have an emergency in the backcountry, don't hesitate to make the call for help by calling 911 or using the SOS function on your satellite device. https://bcsara.com/no-charge-for-sar/