Some dangerous log jams along the Elk River has the City of Fernie urging outdoor enthusiasts to play safe.
City officials said signs have been posted along the river, letting users know of the significant hazards near the Stanford Inn.
More log jams have been spotted north of the golf course.
Fernie Search and Rescue recommends floaters stay between the bridges.
“This year, we have a couple of significant hazards both north and south of town,” said Simon Piney, head of Fernie Search and Rescue. “We had a number of incidents where recreational tubers and boaters have gotten themselves tangled up in those. In some cases we have had to rescue people, in others, bystanders have rescued people.”
“In all of these events, there was a significant risk of someone losing their life,” continued Piney. “This is a wild river. It’s not monitored or patrolled, there are no rescue services nearby standing and waiting for you.”
City officials said you should have a personal floatation device (PFD), a watercraft you can steer and water rescue skills if you want to head into the Stanford area.
Piney said log jams can be a significant hazard, especially when water levels are low and the current is flowing straight through.
“If you’re in a tube or something that is not easy to control, it’ll tend to get sucked into the log jam,” explained Piney. “If you get sucked into a log jam, that’s incredibly dangerous. You have a lot of water pushing into the jam, you certainly won’t be able to get out of it.”
Fernie is offering a number of tips to stay safe on local waterways:
- River users must have watercraft that can be steered and navigated around the obstacles for longer floats.
- Always wear a PFD, but do not assume a PFD will save you or a child. While a PFD is essential, in a log jam they can add to the entanglement hazard.
- Do not allow children to navigate solo.
- Estimate your time of arrival and make sure someone knows your plan.
- If you get out of the water but lose your watercraft, please inform the RCMP or SAR so resources are not wasted.
City staff said there have been a number of close calls recently, and Fernie SAR has responded to several calls related to log jams so far this year.
“We responded to two or three this year, and we know anecdotally of another two or three, so it’s enough to make us concerned,” said Piney. “With how many people we see out on the river these days, there’s a lot of people at risk if they go anywhere near them.”
