NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Heat and smoke have prepared the Lower Mainland search and rescue teams for a potentially busy long weekend while forest fires have resulted in a lack of equipment.
With more than 200 forest fires burning in the province, resources such as helicopters have been diverted to aid BC Wildfire Service crews.
This has resulted in fewer helicopters available to local search and rescue teams, which in turn can lead to slower response times to emergency calls in the hinterland.
Coquitlam Search and Rescue President Tom Zajac says helicopters have also been affected by the forest fires.
“The heat and smoke are affecting their performance and may make it a little more difficult for us to conduct a rescue,” he said.
Search and rescue teams urge you to be extra prepared if you are planning a backcountry excursion / hike this long weekend
It will be hot / dry, Lower Mainland might see smoke AND there is a shortage of rescue helicopters due to resources being moved to fight forest fireshttps://t.co/ptuQeWdLpQ
-Lasia Kretzel (@rhymeswpretzel) July 30, 2021
North Shore Rescue chief Mike Danks said it took a team of 14 volunteers eight hours to rescue someone at Kennedy Falls because a helicopter was not available.
A slower response can be fatal, especially when the south coast is in the middle of its second heat wave in as many months. Searing temperatures bring a whole new level of danger to anyone who leaves unprepared.
The high temperatures increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, and Danks says dehydration can be fatal in rough terrain.
“That can lead to wrong decisions. People who get astray, get injured, ”said Danks, warning against a spontaneous full-day hike. “You can’t just prepare for the morning. If you want to go on a longer hike, you need to drink enough fluids beforehand. And make sure you bring electrolytes and have enough to eat. “
Related articles
Even if volunteers will be employed, anyone in need of help should not hesitate to call.
Danks says crews are sometimes able to get people back on track over the phone, or to help a person “self-rescue”.
Forest fire smoke inside is expected to drift into Lower Mainland
It is now forecast that smoke will move in from the fire-ravaged interior as well as the United States and settle in Metro Vancouver over the weekend.
Zajac recommends people plan a shorter or less intense hike than they usually feel comfortable with.
“The problem with heat and smoke is that it only worsens all of the normal conditions that people already have,” he said. “That’s why it’s a little more difficult for everyone to do their normal level of physical activity. They work a little harder, they get hot, they need a little more water. So everyone just gets tired sooner and worn out sooner. The same problems that arise only occur a little earlier in the day or with a little less activity. “
The province also advises planning your driving routes in advance if planning a trip further from home.
“People intending to travel anywhere in the province should check for road closures, evacuation warnings, evacuation orders, and other prohibitions like closing BC parks first. You should not travel to areas that are subject to evacuation warnings or evacuation orders, ”the province said in a statement.
