B.C. search and rescue group saves hikers stranded on a glacier from wildfire

Corey Bullock · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 28, 2024 9:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: July 28

As wildfires continue to burn across the Kootenay region, a group of four women were helicoptered off a glacier in B.C.’s West Kootenay region last week.

The dramatic rescue, amidst a challenging wildfire season, has officials warning people to be careful.

A search and rescue team flew through thick smoke, near an approaching wildfire to find the hikers, who were stranded on the Macbeth Ice Fields, northeast of Kaslo, about 390 kilometres east of Kelowna.

The four women, who all live in British Columbia, had been camping when the wind picked up, said Mark Jennings-Bates, the Kaslo Search and Rescue manager, who led the rescue.

“Embers were falling on their tent so they ran for their lives,” Jennings-Bates told CBC’s Daybreak South. 

‘It’s like a war zone’

The rescue was especially challenging with smoke making visibility difficult for the helicopter pilot, he said.

“It’s like a war zone,” he said, describing the conditions.

“We were very fortunate to get a helicopter in there, we nearly had to abandon the rescue attempt.”

Jennings-Bates said the stranded women were able to send a text message via satellite through Apple’s emergency SOS function, and that ultimately made the rescue possible. 

“We were just able to sneak over a ridge and found them exactly where the cellphone ping said they were, which is really unusual and very satisfying,” he said. 

“In this instance, their cellphone literally saved their lives.”

Importance of being prepared

Jennings-Bates said the rescue is yet another reminder of the need to be prepared, especially during wildfire season. 

“Have a plan, make sure people know that plan,” he said. 

It’s a message being echoed across the province with eight weeks still left in summer, and widespread dry conditions. 

The Southeast Fire Centre, which covers more than eight million hectares of land in the area, is one of six regional fire centres in the province. 

“We are still in fire season,” said Kim Wright, the Southeast Fire Centre’s  information officer.

“Everyone in British Columbia should be taking steps to be prepared.”

Packing a grab-and-go bag with essential items, doing FireSmart tasks around your home and property, and signing up for emergency alerts, are essential at this time of year, she said.

The Southeast Fire Centre was hit with a lightning storm on July 17, resulting in dozens of wildfires being sparked throughout the region, including the Argenta Creek wildfire, which caused the evacuation of both Argenta and Johnsons Landing on July 25.

Jennings-Bates said he’d been delivering evacuation notices with his crew for 14 hours, when they got the call to rescue the stranded hikers. 

Thankfully, the hiking group was able to make it to a safe spot at the toe of the glacier, surrounded by rocks and next to an alpine lake, he said.

“They would have been safe for a few days, frankly, and they were very well prepared,” Jennings-Bates said.