July was busiest month ever for COSAR

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue said this past July was the busiest month ever in their 69-year history of operations.

COSAR said volunteer search and rescuers were called out to assist the public 18 times in July, beating out the previous record of 12 calls in May of 2022 and 12 in July of 2021.

The search and rescue group said the calls this past July included five wilderness searches; three urban searches for people with dementia; three calls to assist other search and rescue groups; six medical rescues; and helping with issuing evacuation orders during the Knox Mountain fire.

While the majority of those tasks were within the Central Okanagan, COSAR did also assist in searches in Vernon and Rock Creek in July.

COSAR’s Search Manager, Duane Tresnich, reminds people to have the proper equipment and all the essentials when recreating outdoors, adding safety and trip tips can be found at AdventureSmart.ca.