T hurs da y , Ja n u a r y 2 8 , 2010
Serving the South Country, Sparwood, Fernie, Elkford since 1898
$1 ( inc lude s GS T)
Elk Valley Olympic torch photos • Pages 2 and 27 • Bonus coverage in The Valley inside this paper • Extra photos online at www.thefreepress.ca
Lift off for heli-rescue team By Rebecca Edwards Free Press Staff
A
(Left to right) Nic Milligan, Teck Coal presents a $50,000 cheque to Steve Robertson, President of Elk Valley Helirescue, watched by society directors Sharron Thomas, Marilyn Robertson, Chris Thomas, Bernie Palmer and Bernie Van Tighem, Elkford Fire Chief and Greg Goodison, pilot at Bighorn Helicopters. Missing team directors are Jen Coulter and Rick Adams. Photo by A. Treharne
79
$ from
to Vancouver
heli-rescue team has been formed by Elk Valley rescue teams to get help to backcountry accident victims faster. The team will cover the East Kootenay region and will include eight trained long-line rescue team members who can be lowered from the helicopter and extract victims to safety. As well as reaching victims in minutes rather than hours, the team will be able to access victims in awkward places such as ledges or unstable avalanche zones. Currently the nearest heli-rescue teams are in Golden, Nelson or Canmore. Teck Coal is donating $100,000 to the Elk Valley Heli-Rescue Society $50,000 to set up the soci-
ety and $10,000 each year greatest area – there was for the next five years to an opportunity to involve cover running costs. members of each of the Teck’s Manager search and rescue organof Community and izations in the Elk Valley. Governmental Affairs Nic “We also call upon the Milligan said the company search and rescue groups in was keen to other areas “This is an support local and this emergency service search and is equipfor if an accident rescue services ment that happens – it isn’t after seeing w o u l d the response to giving people licence also assist the avalanche to do whichever silly them.” in December thing they want.” T h e 2008 which society Chris Thomas i n c l u d e s took the Heli-rescue team director lives of eight members Sparwood of Fernie and District Search men, several of them Teck and Rescue (FADSAR), employees. Sparwood Search and “That incident high- Rescue and the Elkford lighted the importance of Fire Department. these organizations for us,” Heli-rescue team director he said. “We wanted to rec- Chris Thomas said having ognize that in a significant the long-line capability will way.” allow victims to be rescued Milligan added: “Of all more easily from areas that the projects that search are difficult to reach by and rescue were hoping foot. to develop, the heli-rescue “A few weeks ago we team was applicable to the rescued an injured snow-
mobiler in a helicopter but we had to lug him up a slope to where the helicopter could land. With long line we could lift him up to a landing place which would be much quicker and less people involved. “We have an avalanche beacon detector for the helicopter so possibly in a dangerous avalanche zone we could lower someone down to dig a victim out, and if another avalanche was to happen the helicopter could fly away and take them out of there.” However Thomas, who is also a Fernie Search and Rescue director, warned that the helicopter is not a backcountry taxi service. “You should always be adequately prepared to look after yourself in the backcountry. This is an emergency service for if an accident happens – it isn’t giving people licence to do whichever silly thing they want.”
Experience the excitement in
Vancouver with our lowest airfares ever! Visit friends & family, be part of the excitement. Concerts! Shopping! World-class events!
plus taxes & fees 3-day advance purchase see our website or call for details to/via the uncongested South Terminal @ YVR
109 129 $
$
from
from
to Victoria
to Campbell River
1.800.663.2872 or call your travel agent www.pacificcoastal.com
People Friendly. People First.