Jenna Ellis

Halifax Search and Rescue was proud to participate in the #HalifaxPride Parade! The tent on Rescue One was a heartfelt homage to #HSAR members and their first pride parade entry. Those members led the way in celebrating identity and allyship. #HalifaxPride #SARPride 🌈

Yesterday Halifax SAR responded to an injured person in the Blue Mountain Wilderness Area. Upon assessing the patient, it became clear the extent of their injuries required helicopter assistance. After crews on the ground cleared some trees, a Department of Lands and Forestry pilot was able to skilfully land on a rock face so that the patient and @EHS_NS paramedic could be flown out. Crews cleared out of the woods approximately 45 minutes later.

Today we honor the brave trans individuals who have paved the way for visibility and equality. Let's continue to advocate for their rights and uplift their voices. #TransDayOfVisibility #TDOV #VisibilityMatters 🏳️‍⚧️✊

Jasmin Paris @JasminKParis finished loop five of the #BM100 in 59:58:21.

🎖️ Blair Doyle, Search Director at HSAR, was honoured with the Sovereign’s Medal for #Volunteers by the @LtGovNS. Since '88, Blair's expertise and dedication has helped save countless lives. The medal, established in 2015, recognizes outstanding Canadian volunteers. #GSAR

Two weeks ago our new members-in-training (MIT's) successfully completed their Woodslore training course. The course includes both classroom time and time in the field practicing new skills. Woodslore is the second in our series of five core module training courses. #GSAR

Search and rescue crews play unique role in Halifax homelessness crisis ift.tt/jAS5uz3

HSAR is providing assistance to @hfxgov #EmergencyManagement during this winter #NSStorm storm event. We will be conducting checks again tomorrow and continue to transport or provide additional support to residents as requested. #NeighboursHelpingNeighbours

We are recruiting for field responders (searchers)! Intake process will be open until Feb 4/24. Visit youtube.com/watch?v=YaPM15… or follow the QR code to start the process:

Moving water creates the potential for highly dangerous conditions that can put members of the public and rescuers (untrained in swift water) at high risk. Operating in these conditions requires specialized training, equipment, and ability. In July, when our region was hit by severe flooding, HSAR’s existing Swift Water Rescue Technicians were very busy responding to calls in HRM and West Hants, and assisted in rescuing a total of 30 people from floodwaters. This event served as both validation of our efforts to develop swift water capability, and also an impetus to increase our roster of Swift Water Rescue Technician accredited members. We expect to have over 20 trained and certified members in the near future. Our team is fortunate one of our members is the owner of Atlantic Canada’s only Rescue Canada accredited Swift Water Rescue school, who brings 20+ years of experience in conducting swift water training across Canada. We expect to have over 20 trained and certified members by next week. While we hope to never need these skills, in the face of increasing occurrences of extreme weather, we take comfort in knowing we have more Swift Water Rescue Technician members ready to respond if needed. #GSAR

Five months ago, as the Tantallon wildfires were burning out of control, HSAR was one of the many agencies that were busy with evacuations and public safety efforts. HSAR was on scene for 11 days in a row, with 2800 hours of volunteer time used across nearly 100 different taskings. The 5th day of the wildfires was the hottest, with temperatures reaching 33 degrees. Early in the afternoon one of the firefighting helicopters developed an in-flight issue while lifting its water bucket from Taylor Lake, and was forced to jettison the bucket and cable. The aircraft proceeded to safely land, the critical piece of firefighting equipment sank to the bottom of the lake. The Halifax SAR marine team was called in to attempt to locate and recover the equipment, and as quickly as possible. The team is uniquely equipped to access and operate on wilderness lakes, and has high-tech tools and training for underwater searching. With fire actively burning along portions of the lake’s edge, and in coordination with the nearby firefighting helicopters that were still scooping from the lake to defend the nearby homes, the team had a very unusual working environment. After using both an underwater camera and side scan sonar, sonar located the bucket at a depth of 31 feet. By using precision GPS and a special retrieval tool, the team was then able to connect onto the bucket, pull it back to the surface and into the boat. The firefighting bucket was then returned to the air crews and put back into service fighting the wildfires. The replacement value of the bucket was $25,000, but its operational value at the time was priceless. While this wasn’t the first successful sonar find for the HSAR marine team, it certainly was the most unusual. Thank you to all HRM Councillors for making this recovery possible, as the sonar was purchased in 2020 through a one-time capital grant received from all @hfxgov.

as a customer of NS Power, you get up at 4:30 to enjoy electricity while it lasts

Chief Director Paul Service and team member Dr. Joey Yazer recently spoke with @eilishbonang about hiking with your dog. Taking your pup along this #LabourDay weekend? Be @BCAdvSmart and pack a few extra essentials for your dog. Learn more here: globalnews.ca/video/9931235/…

Team NS U15F TIED Ontario 2-2! This is a solid game effort!

The Natal Day Parade on a beautiful sunny day. Thanks to organizers and everyone who came out to enjoy. @hfxcivicevents @hfxgov

At the request of @RCMPNS, #HSAR members are now responding to #GoldRiver to assist with a missing persons search.

Halifax Search and Rescue members were deployed last night to assist @hfxgov #EmergencyManagement and @hfxfire with evacuations in the #Beford - #Sackville area. We are deployed again this morning to assist. Stay off the roads. #NSStorm

Halifax SAR is currently deployed in #Bedford #Sackville are assisting with water rescues. #NSStorm

(EMO) Volunteer Halifax SAR are setting up to assist in multiple roles required at the Tantallon Fire. Some duties will include evacuation and transport duties as well as other tasks required. (photo contributed)

.@HalifaxSAR are currently assisting @hfxgov #EmergencyManagement and @hfxfire with the ongoing fire in #HammondsPlains. We are being assisted by Eastern Shore #GSAR as we help conduct evacuations.