Kent Harrison Search and Rescue is an unpaid volunteer organization with an average of 25 trained members. Its primary function is that of a community resource to assist the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the British Columbia Ambulance Service and the British Columbia Coroners Service and Fire Departments in a variety of search and rescue functions.
The team is highly trained in a multitude of disciplines, including Ground Search and Rescue, Inland Water Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, and Rope Rescue.
In some cases, Mutual assistance is required from one or more of the other 78 Search and Rescue groups across the province. The use of aircraft can be authorized by Emergency Management BC (EMBC) or RCMP.
Kent Harrison Search and Rescue averages 50 activations every year, with the majority of incidents occurring between April and October. Volunteers expend thousands of hours each year on incident responses, training, maintenance, repair and administration.
Ground Search and Rescue
All KHSAR members are trained in Ground Search and Rescue, including first aid, survival, communications, ICS (Incident Command System) Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and search techniques.
Some members gain certification in Ground Search Team Leader (GSTL), SAR Management and Small vessel operator proficiency (SVOP)
inland water Rescue
Kent Harrison Search and Rescue's coverage area includes several large bodies of water, including Harrison Lake (218 Sq Km)
and Chehalis Lake (5 Sq Km)
The primary response vessel on Harrison Lake is the "Spirit of Harrison" A 26' Aluminum San Juan Landing Craft, powered by twin Yamaha 200 outboards, capable of a swift response to any shoreline. Several other watercraft are also utilized, including two SAR SeaDoo's, a 20' centre console aluminum boat and a 12' polythylene boat.
Rope Rescue
The mountainous terrain in the backcountry surrounding Agassiz and Harrison requires advanced capabilities in low and high-angle rope rescue.
Swift-water Rescue
The topography of the coverage area includes numerous steep drainages that feed into some spectacular creeks, rivers and waterfalls. The group maintains a swiftwater response capability to address incidents in this challenging environment.