Members of Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services made their way down to the river valley by the High Level Bridge for training on Wednesday.
The goal is to help enhance the safety of the water, according to LFES Chief Greg Adair.
Members of the LFES Water Rescue and High Angle Rescue, or rope, teams are participating in the training.
Adair says crew members are climbing up along the bridge to remove man-made items like rope swings and ladders from the bridge.
“It’s a very inviting river, but this is not a playground. This is a very dangerous spot within the river. With all the hazards you see around us and what you can’t see below us, we ask that people stay away from this area,” he comments.
Adair adds that if you are going to enjoy the water in the river valley, pre-plan your event, bring a lifejacket, take drinking water and refrain from consuming drugs or alcohol.
“We’re about enhancing public safety within the river valley,” he notes.
PRIVATE PROPERTY
Adair says it may be tempting to spend time around the bridge, due to the natural beauty of the area, but it is private property owned by CPKC. “For individuals who are entering or climbing on that bridge, they are actually trespassing,” he notes.
Adair says a major focus for the department is educating the public that there are hazards, seen and unseen, in the river valley.
He encourages everyone to recreate in the area, but to do so responsibly.
As of Wednesday morning, Adair says crews had cut down a handful of ladders and ropes from the bridge, and even a diving board.
“Some of the members have probably never been on this bridge so it’s a good chance for them to get familiar with it,” adds Wes Borland, Deputy Chief for the LFES Training Division.
“We go out, we scope it out, they’ve been working on this for a couple of weeks. They came up with a plan and now they are executing the plan.”
Borland notes some of the debris that can be found under the water includes large logs, garbage, and even engine blocks.
“It’s very unpredictable what is under there and you cannot see it from the surface so that’s what makes it so dangerous,” he adds.
Borland adds work like this helps lessen the amount of rescues and incidents of note around the area.
