With more than 40 callouts this year, a team of volunteers responsible for finding and extricating lost souls on the West Coast looks to build on its roster, and replace much-needed equipment in 2025.

The Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue team is made up of about 40 active members based in East Sooke and covering that area through to Port Renfrew.

B次元官网网址淥ur volunteers contributed more than 12,500 hours in training and callouts,B次元官网网址� coordinator and search manager Victoria Clarke told the Sooke B次元官网网址 Mirror.

The team also provides primary mutual aid to the rest of southern Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands. But by far the busiest calls are for lower limb injuries and lost or overdue hikers on the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail B次元官网网址� a relatively short trial with some significant hazards, including tree roots, that can get wet and muddy.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a busy trail and it gets the third highest calls in the province,B次元官网网址� Clarke said. B次元官网网址淵ou get weather coming and itB次元官网网址檚 easy to underestimate it, and accidents happen no matter how prepared you are.B次元官网网址�

Volunteers train a minimum of 10 months a year, with many more committing to specialty teams B次元官网网址� rope, swift water, tracking and advanced first aid teams B次元官网网址� or management and leadership skill development.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e all been really committed this year to adding to their skills with ongoing training,B次元官网网址� Clarke said.

As recently as early December there was a call to find and help get three hikers out. One person had a lower-body injury necessitating a high-angle rope rescue as well as the swift water techs to get the team to the correct side of the river. Training is ongoing, frequently in partnership with neighbouring teams B次元官网网址� which they also work alongside while doing larger scale searches B次元官网网址� such as Cowichan, Ladysmith and Metchosin.

A goal for 2025 is to continue building on those relationships, both including other search agencies such as Royal Canadian Marine SAR (RCMSAR), Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) and local fire departments.

RCMSAR is a charitable organization of volunteers who provide marine search and rescue 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Volunteers operate more than 30 marine stations along the B.C. coast and interior including south Island stations in Victoria, Sooke, Sidney, Oak Bay and Brentwood Bay.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e working hard at developing relationships. So we can call on these resources when we need their expertise,B次元官网网址� Clarke said. She recalls an incident where a hiker fell to rocks below and the Sooke RCMSAR team was stationed offshore, B次元官网网址渨orking to ensure we have a successful outcome,B次元官网网址� acting as eyes on the scene from the water while a helicopter was tasked with extracting the individual.

B次元官网网址淲hen weB次元官网网址檙e out on a rescue call weB次元官网网址檙e out rescuing somebody but weB次元官网网址檙e always aware we need to be safe as well,B次元官网网址� Clarke said.

While one rapid intervention team (RIT) is out on the rescue, another is on standby.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just having additional resources and expertise that round out what weB次元官网网址檙e bringing as a ground search and rescue team.B次元官网网址�

CASARA is a nationwide volunteer aviation association dedicated to supporting search and rescue programs from the air, and promoting SAR awareness.

B次元官网网址淭hey train a lot and they are very much ready, willing and able to assist us. We again have reached out to them this year to train with them and understand what kind of resources they provide us with,B次元官网网址� Clarke said.

CASARA is also an asset providing radio relay in challenging terrain that hampers the signals.

B次元官网网址淚t just adds to what weB次元官网网址檙e bringing,B次元官网网址� Clarke said, noting Juan de Fuca called on CASARA during a recent search for a missing woman.

The new year brings new gear for the group. As part of long-term planning, 2025 is the year Juan de Fuca SAR replaces its main rescue vehicle.

B次元官网网址淭hat vehicle is a key resource in our response operations. ItB次元官网网址檚 what we use to transport personnel and essential equipment to a scene,B次元官网网址� Clarke said of the Ford F350 with equipment box. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely aged out and weB次元官网网址檙e overdue for one.B次元官网网址�

Another expensive and expansive replacement is in order B次元官网网址� the distinctive yellow Gore-Tex outerwear jackets that help keep volunteer searchers safe and dry.

B次元官网网址淢any are no longer waterproof and have reached end of life,B次元官网网址� Clarke said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an essential part of our safety equipment given the work weB次元官网网址檙e doing.B次元官网网址�

The team also recruits in a two-year cycle B次元官网网址� in order to streamline the work and resources involved in the endeavour B次元官网网址� and 2025 is a year theyB次元官网网址檒l recruit new blood.

Those interested can anticipate an open house in the spring, followed by interviews and training in the fall.

Clarke says the group is well supported by the province and the Capital Regional District, but just as critically by the people they serve.

B次元官网网址淭he community has been incredibly supportive as well of our efforts,B次元官网网址� Clarke said.

B次元官网网址淚 feel like you step away from your family life and your work life to commit these volunteer hours so itB次元官网网址檚 really nice to give a shoutout to the work thatB次元官网网址檚 being done.B次元官网网址�