‘A lot more people are looking for ways to cool off, and the rivers are one of those places,’ said CFD spokeswoman Carol Henke
More than 20 people have been rescued while rafting in the past four days, with one taken to the hospital with serious injuries, as a heat wave scorches Calgary, according to the Calgary Fire Department.
“A lot more people are looking for ways to cool off, and the rivers are one of those places,” CFD spokeswoman Carol Henke told Postmedia.
However, she added many are unprepared for the perils of rafting in the river, leading to the need for rescues.
“A lot of folks are going to a department store and buying floaties or rafts that are not meant for an urban wilderness river scenario — the type of floaties that we’re seeing are meant for calm water,” Henke said.
Such equipment could easily puncture, with rocks, driftwood branches and trees underneath the water carried by the river at high speeds.
She highlighted the importance of securing a life-jacket.
Henke recalled an incident Tuesday when a couple’s raft capsized. The woman made it to the shore, while the man was stuck on a rock. Both were wearing life-jackets.
“They actually came off as they flipped,” Henke said.
There is also the issue of dangerous passages. Henke noted, for instance, that Harvie Passage is meant for experienced kayakers.
“If you haven’t looked online and familiarized yourself with where Harvie Passage is, the flow time to get (there) depending on where you put in along the river, and you go down Harvie Passage, you’re putting yourself at risk,” she added.
“It is not meant for floaties, for rafts, for inner tubes. It is not a lazy river. It is not a splash park. It is meant for experienced kayakers who are wearing the appropriate safety equipment, which includes a helmet, because the rocks are cemented into place; there are boulders, and if you hit your head on that, you’re going to go unconscious.”
Henke said the number of rescues during a heat wave is par for the course. Two firefighters are part of the trained aquatics team operating a boat, which is launched once the department receives a complaint.
It takes a few minutes or longer to respond to an incident, depending on the location of the boat and whether it has been launched. Other firefighters also respond when people are stuck on a shore.
Henke advised residents planning to raft to take several precautions, including keeping a safety kit with a water-bailing device, a portable air horn, a whistle or bell, a 15-metre rope and a waterproof LED flashlight or a mirror to call or signal for help.
Heat warning, fire bans in effect throughout Alberta
The surge in river rafting comes as temperatures touched 35 C on Wednesday. An Environment Canada heat warning remained in effect for the province, advising Albertans to hydrate, reschedule outdoor activities if possible and take frequent breaks from the heat.
Terri Lang, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said the heat wave will last until Thursday, after which cooler air will flow into Alberta, potentially causing storm conditions. Heat will return sometime next week, but it will not be as severe, she added, with temperatures in the mid-20s.
Hotter temperatures have also increased the risk of wildfires across Alberta, prompting the province to implement a fire ban for the entire Forest Protection Area at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Rocky View County also declared a fire advisory that suspended fireworks permits and banned burning with certain exceptions, including in indoor household fireplaces.
— With files from Matt Scace