The Kinlock Independent Lifeboat Service (KILS) was originally founded in 2020 to meet the growing need for a dedicated water rescue service in the Kinlock and Stratford area. After the completion of funding and staffing with necessary crew, the service officially opened at the start of 2024.

KILS was influenced by already proven and successful lifeboat services such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in the United Kingdom, and Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR) in British Columbia.