Whoever put the Kelowna Snowmobile Club含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 parking lot, said Cpl. Jesse O含羞草研究社橠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.

含羞草研究社淭hat snowmobile club含羞草研究社檚 groomer maintained the Graystokes area,含羞草研究社� said Ephraim Nowak president and search manager of COSAR.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 quite a blow to them and quite a blow to those who use the trail.含羞草研究社�

It will also be a problem if there含羞草研究社檚 need for a rescue, adding time to what may otherwise be a swift operation.

含羞草研究社淚f we do have a rescue it will be a rough ride,含羞草研究社� said Nowak.

含羞草研究社淚f we had to do a rescue at night, or if the cloud cover was low, we wouldn含羞草研究社檛 be able to use the helicopter and that (would hamper) search and rescue efforts.含羞草研究社�

He added it含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淭hat just shows their support for community,含羞草研究社� 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.