Coquitlam Search and Rescue will be adding to its supply of digital radios with a $10,000 grant awarded Thursday.
The provincial grant will allow the team to purchase up to 11 new radios that have GPS technology, said spokesperson Michael Coyle, and means search co-ordinators can track teams throughout their searches. The announcement was made Wednesday when Premier Christy Clark visited with SAR volunteers at Coquitlam's Town Centre fire hall Wednesday.
The new gear — which brings the total to about 27 digital radios for the approximately 50-member volunteer team — will also integrate with the digital technology that will be part of the new mobile command centre, which is expected to be in operation this spring.
"Maintaining radio communication between field teams and our command vehicle is mission-critical," said Coquitlam SAR president Darren Timmer in a press release. "These radios will allow not only two-way communication with all existing (analog) SAR frequencies but will also support our transition to digital VHF communications and real-time GPS tracking of field teams."
Coyle said the grant is separate from what the local group can expect to receive from a one-time $10-million provincial funding announcement for B.C. search and rescue teams made on Wednesday. That money is going to the B.C. Search and Rescue Association, which will distribute it to SAR groups throughout the province.
