Latest news with #LFES
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Lethbridge fire and emergency services water rescue team training beneath the High Level Bridge
First responders spent Wednesday doing training exercises in water rescue on the High Level Bridge. Specially trained first responders spent much of Wednesday morning training alongside and even climbing the High Level Bridge. Fast water, steep terrain and railway infrastructure make any emergency here especially dangerous. 'We've got both the water rescue and the high angle rescue or the rope rescue team out here,' said LFES training division deputy chief, Wes Borland. 'So they're working together,' Borland said. 'A lot of the members are on both teams, so it works out really well. And it's just a chance to get out on the CPKC bridge.' The training is done in conjunction with CPKC, who own and operate the rail track. LFES needs to get permission just to train on the bridge. The cooperation between the two helps ensure first responders are prepared. 'Some of the members have probably never been on this bridge, so it's a good chance for them to get familiar with it. It's kind of like, a preplan for our fires. So, we go out, we scope it out. They've been working on this for a couple of weeks,' said Borland. It was more than just a training exercise. LFES personnel also took the time to remove ropes than had been hung up so people could jump into the water. Water rescue exercises, Aug. 13, 2025 LFES personnel also took the time to remove ropes than had been hung up so people could jump into the water. (Quinn Keenan, CTV Lethbridge) 'They don't understand the dangers here. This bridge is the property of CPKC and it is private property. So, for individuals who are entering or climbing on that bridge, they're actually trespassing. We don't want that, it's unsafe,' said fire chief, Greg Adair. It's an especially dangerous area to swim. Below the water is barbed wire, concrete with exposed rebar, large rocks and tree debris. LFES works to clear out as much as they can but the best advice is to avoid swimming under 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. We asked people to stay away from this area. It is not a safe area,' said Adair.
CTV News
27-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Lethbridge Fire and EMS refresh water rescue skills, issue summer water safety reminders
With more people expected to hit the water to cool down, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services is reminding everyone to do so safely and plan ahead. With summer temperatures returning to southern Alberta, many will be finding ways to beat the heat, including taking a float down the Oldman River, and that has Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services (LFES) refreshing their water skills. 'We get really, really nice weather in Lethbridge, and people are wanting to take advantage of that, and one of the ways they take advantage of that is to spend time close to water,' said Charles Schoening, water rescue team lead with LFES. 'Our river is extremely popular for rafting and floating, but we need to take a minute and think about how to do so safely.' To prepare for the months of July and August, typically the busiest time for the water rescue team, members spent Thursday taking part in a simulated search at Riverstone Pond. 'This is something that we do every three years to refresh everybody's skills as well as to train new members of the team,' said Schoening. With summer temperatures returning to southern Alberta, many will be finding ways to beat the heat, including taking a float down the Oldman River, and that has Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services refreshing their water skills. With summer temperatures returning to southern Alberta, many will be finding ways to beat the heat, including taking a float down the Oldman River, and that has Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services refreshing their water skills. LFES' water rescue team consists of 24 certified members. 'There's lots of local ponds, lots of reservoirs, lots of rivers around, so (it's) super important that we can manage ourselves under the water, near the water or on top of the water,' said Braden Burton, firefighter/advanced care paramedic and member of the LFES water rescue team. Officials say the Oldman River is a popular destination for recreation, but swift currents, changing water conditions and hidden hazards can quickly turn a fun outing into an emergency. Last week, a 17-year-old boy died while trying to swim across the Oldman River. With summer temperatures returning to southern Alberta, many will be finding ways to beat the heat, including taking a float down the Oldman River, and that has Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services refreshing their water skills. With summer temperatures returning to southern Alberta, many will be finding ways to beat the heat, including taking a float down the Oldman River, and that has Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services refreshing their water skills. LFES is reminding water recreators to be safe and plan ahead. 'It's important, first of all, to make sure somebody is aware of what your plan is,' said Schoening. 'So, if you're going to go for a float, call a trusted family member or friend and tell them when you're planning to go to the river, where you're going to be parked while you're on the river, what your vehicle is that you're taking and what your expected time of arrival back is.' He says wearing a life jacket, proper footwear, avoiding alcohol, bringing a cellphone and staying away from high-risk areas are important. 'The High Level Bridge is not a great place to be in the water,' said Schoening. 'There's extremely unpredictable currents around the pillars of the bridge and there's also a lot of snag risks—there's barbed wire that's floated downriver and there's steal beams down there.' For those who do fall in, experts say the best thing to do is not panic. 'The first thing in lifeguard training that we do is encourage calmness and everything is going to be OK and that communication is clear and concise,' said Ryenee Katterhagen, a lifeguard at the YMCA Lethbridge. She says if a person falls in, they need to find a point of safety, and if they become tired from swimming, flip onto their back to float and take a break before swimming again. Katterhagen says knowing how to swim can make the biggest difference. 'At the YMCA, we offer swim lessons for infants all the way up to adults,' she said. 'Knowing how to swim adds a lot of confidence to someone when they are in the water and how to navigate certain situations.'
