Whoever put the Kelowna Snowmobile Club香蕉视频直播檚 groomer out of commission also put back-country rescuers at a disadvantage.
A $150,000 piece of trail-grooming equipment was destroyed Saturday in a fire believed to be intentionally lit some time between 4 p.m. on March 11 and 8:30 a.m. March 12 in the club香蕉视频直播檚 parking lot, said Cpl. Jesse O香蕉视频直播橠onaghey.
RCMP are dealing with the investigation, and an insurance claim will be filed, but the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue team are sounding alarm bells in the meantime.
香蕉视频直播淭hat snowmobile club香蕉视频直播檚 groomer maintained the Graystokes area,香蕉视频直播 said Ephraim Nowak president and search manager of COSAR.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 quite a blow to them and quite a blow to those who use the trail.香蕉视频直播
It will also be a problem if there香蕉视频直播檚 need for a rescue, adding time to what may otherwise be a swift operation.
香蕉视频直播淚f we do have a rescue it will be a rough ride,香蕉视频直播 said Nowak.
香蕉视频直播淚f we had to do a rescue at night, or if the cloud cover was low, we wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be able to use the helicopter and that (would hamper) search and rescue efforts.香蕉视频直播
He added it香蕉视频直播檚 disheartening that someone would do something to an organization that goes above and beyond to give to their community.
That giving spirit, said Nowak, was on display last night when the snowmobile club assisted them in a rescue.
香蕉视频直播淭hat just shows their support for community,香蕉视频直播 he said.
The incident took place in the area of Graystokes Forest Service Road (FSR) and Bug FSR
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300. Remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net or by texting your tip to CRIMES (274637) ktown.