Fernie Search and Rescue

Fernie and Sparwood SAR were involved in a major overnight extrication for an injured timber biker last night.

The accident occurred in the McEvoy Creek area, a long way from the main trails, in the creek, and called in via 911 around 530pm

The 38 year old male was eventually tobogganed out to Morrissey at around 230am and handed over to BCAS. He sustained serious spinal injuries and has been transferred to the East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook.

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On Friday January 7, Fernie SAR was called in the late afternoon for a snowmobiler that had hit a tree in the rolling hills area. Due to weather and time of day no helicopter support was available. Fernie SAR members and convergents from the fernie snowmobile club were able to locate the subject on sleds and use the clubs grooming cat to bring the subject to the valley bottom and hand over to an awaiting ambulance around 23:00

Once again people on scene having a satellite locating beacon was the only reason they did not spend an extremely uncomfortable night on the mountain. Good to see so many sledding groups carrying the necessary equipment!

And a huge thanks to the the Fernie Snowmobile Association for the use of the cat and to Fernie Wilderness Adventures for the use of their cabin and parking lot for staging the rescue.

Some great advice from our friends at Sparwood SAR:-

Most online map services like Google and Apple are currently taking information regarding detours and delays due to flooding and making dangerous algorithm-generated route suggestions. We are aware of one stranded motorist contacting SAR for help already.

All logging roads and other backcountry roads should be assumed to be impassible under the current conditions. You’ll almost certainly encounter washouts, deep mud or snow, or unsafe bridges on these routes.

Updates on highway conditions and detours can be found at www.drivebc.ca

Fernie SAR was back out this afternoon with another flood-related rescue in the Cokato area.

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