Wallace Fire Responds to Pugwash Water Rescue

For the second time in just over a week, Pugwash Fire Department had to ask for help with a water rescue.

The department was paged this afternoon for an overturned kayak off the Brickyard Road. Dispatchers quickly called for mutual aid call from Wallace firefighters who have a rescue boat.

The previous call was for someone stranded in the water off Port Howe. In that case Shinimicas provided the mutual aid with their rescue craft.

Wallace firefighters had just arrived on scene this afternoon when word was received that the kayakers had made it to shore on the beach below Camp Pagweak on the west side of the harbour. No injuries were reported.

Pugwash Fire identified the need for a rescue boat 36 years ago when a large yacht burned in the outer harbour. The department started fundraising about fifteen years ago.

Water rescue calls have been on the increase in recent years, five this summer to date, with more visitors and recreational activity along the beaches and coastal shores. The greatest number of calls also pose the greatest danger with people underestimating the challenge of navigating the wind and currents on small craft and floatation devices.

It has been said that a life might be in danger on a fire call, but a life is definitely in danger in a water rescue.

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