Calgary Fire Department and partners urge staying off rivers this weekend
Yesterday, officials from the Calgary Fire Department (CFD), Calgary Police Service (CPS) and Animal & Bylaw Services (ABS) were alongside the Bow River to update on river conditions and remind about river safety and the high-flow stream advisory that is still in effect on the Bow and Elbow Rivers.
“We advise that people continue to stay off of the rivers, as the water is still very fast and has poor visibility, making it dangerous for even experienced paddlers, kayakers and rafters,” said Deputy Chief Ken Uzeloc of the Calgary Fire Department. “Over the past few weeks, our Aquatic Rescue team has responded to calls of overturned boats and missing boaters. We do not want anyone to be harmed or to take unnecessary risks.”
A river safety advisory has been in effect for the Bow and Elbow Rivers since last year’s flood due to the many new and unknown hazards in and around the rivers. A video is available showing many of these hazards at www.calgary.ca/fire.
On May 29th and on June 17th, a high-stream flow advisory was also issued for the Bow and Elbow Rivers respectively after continued rainfall and snow pack melting resulted in faster river flow and poor visibility.
“As a Partner in River Safety, we want to ensure that when conditions are appropriate, that all citizens know and follow the bylaws to stay safe on the water,” said Dorlene Hemm, Operations Coordinator with Animal & Bylaw Services. She reminded that failing to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) or life jacket while boating is the law and that consuming alcohol while on the water is illegal, as is the transport of alcohol.
Calgary Bylaw Officers will be out this weekend to enforce bylaws related to water safety, which can be found at www.calgary.ca, search ‘River Safety Tips’.
In addition to having CFD boats and the CPS Marine Unit on the Bow River, CFD members, Bylaw and Police Officers will be reminding raftersat put in locations about river conditions, safety concerns as well as Calgary’s laws and bylaws.
For more information on river advisories and river safety please visit www.calgary.ca/fire.
The Partners in River Safety want to ensure everyone safely and respectfully enjoys the city’s rivers, parks, pathways, and recreation areas this summer.