Three times over the weekend, the Clearwater fire department and Rocky Mountain House Mounties had to rescue boaters across their region.
The first call came on Friday when the two emergency services were called to help a group of four adults and one youth.
Their canoe capsized near the Bighorn Dam on the North Saskatchewan River. The five people were stranded on the shore of a small island. Fire rescue deployed their Zodiac jet boat and ferried the individuals to the main land. Search and Rescue met and assisted the people when they arrived on shore, getting them safely back to their vehicles.
No one was injured.
The first of two Saturday calls brought Rocky Mountain House RCMP, Clearwater fire, search and rescue and EMS back to the North Saskatchewan River near the Bighorn Dam.
Again a canoe had capsized, this time stranding two adults on logs in the river. Police said they were wearing personal flotation devices.
Fire rescue again deployed their Zodiac jet boat and ferried the individuals back to the main land. Police and search and rescue met and assisted the individuals when they arrived on shore, getting them back to their vehicle safely. Again, no injuries were reported.
A third canoe capsized on Saturday, this time on the North Saskatchewan River near the Saunders Recreation Area.
It’s occupants, two men wearing personal flotation devices, were stranded on opposite sides of the river, one on the north south side and one on the south side.
Rocky Mountain House RCMP deployed their jet boat, recovered both individuals and returned them to their vehicles.
Police said the water levels on the North Saskatchewan River are extremely high and ask the public to stay off the river until the water levels recede.