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Cochrane Search and Rescue deploys members north to assist wildfire evacuation efforts

President of Cochrane SAR, Andy Potton, said he responded to a call put out by Alberta Search and Rescue for a search manager to support a technical search and rescue team in Grande Prairie. They also assisted in evacuation efforts in the region amid ongoing wildfires.

Vigilant and dedicated members of Cochrane Search and Rescue (SAR) spent over 1,000 volunteer hours from May 11 to 22 as they assisted search and evacuation efforts both locally and across northern Alberta.

President of Cochrane SAR, Andy Potton, said he responded to a call put out by Alberta Search and Rescue for a search manager to support a technical search and rescue team in Grande Prairie. They also assisted in evacuation efforts in the region amid ongoing wildfires.

“So, I went up and it’s because the team had been going already for a week up there,” Potton said. “They needed someone to come in and manage their volunteer resources, troops, and whatnot, because they were doing a lot of incredible things out there, such as making sure people were evacuated safely and that they weren’t going down roads that would lead to a wildfire.”

After arriving, Potton said he realized there was a need to potentially bring in additional resources from Cochrane SAR, in the event more evacuations were needed. Alongside Potton, Trish Dickason, R.W. Dickason, Galen Beerbaum and Ben Simonelli assisted the NW Regional SAR Teams from May 11 to 17.

The team worked with Grande Prairie Technical Search and Rescue and the Emergency Operations Centre, who were managing the Dunes West wildfire. Potton said the centre later needed additional resources, and they rallied the province together with Search and Rescue members from across the province to come help.

Soon after assisting in Grande Prairie, Potton, Beerbaum, and Simonelli set off for Peace River, where they met with three other members of Cochrane SAR; Aline Garant, Ryan Kroeker and Chris Bates. There, they provided assistance by working alongside local Conservation Officers from May 18 to 22.

But even though they were required in other parts of the province, Potton stressed Cochrane SAR was still on hand to focus on their availability back home.

“While we had those resources deployed up north assisting where we could, every May long-weekend, because we know it gets busy out in this area, . . . we work with our local RCMP detachments who are very kind of our forward-thinking in terms of putting their resources out, and putting Cochrane SAR on formal standby,” he said

Since all SAR members have day-to-day lives outside of being volunteers, if they receive a call about a missing person search, they would be able to respond if needed. Potton said 35 members signed up for several shifts over the May long weekend to be available for a quick response if their services were required.

Potton said he’s hesitant to say he was on the frontlines of the northern wildfires, as their base was actually staged in a safe area so the professional firefighters could safely do what they do best.

“From what I witnessed up and around Grande Prairie...there was a whole heap of fire crews sent up to assist, which was amazing to see,” Potton said.

“It’s incredible to see everyone working together towards that common objective, and that common objective is not only wildfire-fighting, but making sure that people are safe.”

Potton said Cochrane SAR did their community proud in both heading up north and volunteering their time over the May long weekend. In total, he said Cochrane SAR spent 617 volunteer hours (or $25,574.24 in resources) assisting crews in northern Alberta, alongside 912 volunteer hours or approximately $18,240 in volunteer shifts over the May long weekend.

“And that speaks as to why Cochrane SAR is such an amazing team,” Potton said. “Because people are prepared to make these sacrifices.”


Daniel Gonzalez

About the Author: Daniel Gonzalez

Daniel Gonzalez joined the Cochrane Eagle in 2022. He is a graduate of the Mount Royal University Journalism program. He has worked for the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta and as a reporter in rural Alberta for the ECA Review.
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