Southern Colorado firefighters remind people risks of fast-rising, swift water in creeks during rainy weather

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- In the past week, firefighters have conducted two rescues, and one fatal recovery, of people who somehow ended up in or close to creeks that were affected by flash flooding during heavy rains.

Several victims were successfully rescued from Fountain Creek last week but Joshua Lindsey, 34, apparently drowned after his body was recovered Thursday from Monument Creek.

"Yeah, I think it was a total of five people and two rescues," said Steve Wilch, a battalion chief with the Colorado Springs Fire Department. "We had two animals, and we had five people total. One of our rescues was four adults and one dog. And another rescue was a gentleman and his dog, as well. They were stranded out in the middle, as the flooded waters were coming down."

Tim Trujillo, a spokesman for the Pueblo Fire Department, said his department responded to a rescue earlier this year.

"We did have one early in the year that was in a dry creek bed," he recalled. "That was a flash flood, the people were trapped on the bank and we did lower one of our firefighters down to make that rescue with the rope. There were two (victims). They get down there walking around -- or walking the dog, even."

Creeks, streams, and drainage ditches in the area have low water flow levels during normally dry weather but can rise suddenly and with little warning during rainstorms.

People who happen to be in or near those areas during heavy rain may have little or no time to react and reach higher ground -- especially if the rain may be falling miles upstream and not in the immediate area.

Firefighters said that most of the people requiring rescue are those experiencing homelessness who live along creeks and streams despite an ordinance prohibiting camping within 100 feet of a waterway (in Colorado Springs).

Both fire departments regularly train their firefighters in basic water rescue skills and have specialized units that provide more technical expertise and perform more difficult rescues.

"Reach, throw, row, go," Wilch explained. So, if a firefighter going to make a reach, he has a tool that will extend his reach out into the stream. If he has the inability to reach that person, he has a throw bag (rope) and he can throw that line to them. And if he has to go into the water, he is equipped with the gear that will hopefully allow him to make the contact with that individual, and bring them to safety."

He also said that even before the rainy season, firefighters are checking creeks, streams, and drainage channels for hazards.

"We're checking for things that will create a problem for us when we go out there," Wilch said. "A lot of the things that create problems, is debris. Things that are going to wash down the creek and take somebody off their feet. It could be anything from a tree to a shopping cart."

Trujillo said that people can help make firefighters' jobs easier.

"Just stay out of creek beds," he advised. "It's our job to be equipped, be experienced with the water and the water levels. People should know what the risks are, be alert to weather changes and make sure they know that personal flotation devices are required any time that they're in the water."

Adding to the challenges for Pueblo firefighters is that they have to prepare for rescues in the larger, swifter Arkansas River as well as local drainages.

"Creeks such as Fountain Creek are essentially big drainage channels," he said. "The levees along the river can make access difficult, but many of the people who use it are experienced kayakers or rafters who can rescue themselves, if necessary."