Skip to content

Rope rescue practice leads to Goat River cleanup

Fire Chief Bruce Mabin reported to town council that a rope rescue training program has had an unanticipated benefit...
34441crestongoat_river_cleanup_creston_fire_rescue
(Top) Fire department members pose with various items pulled from Goat River. (Above) Creston Fire Rescue Lt. Randall Fabbro being lowered into the Goat River canyon with a basket stretcher that will be used to bring up smaller debris.

At the Nov. 8 town council meeting, fire Chief Bruce Mabin reported to town council that a rope rescue training program has had an unanticipated benefit — much of the trash that has been dumped into the Goat River from Canyon Bridge was removed on Nov. 5 and 6.

Earl From and Terry Lawson of Calgary’s Rescue Essentials have provided rope rescue training to Creston Fire Rescue staff and volunteers for the past several years. They volunteered — yes, volunteered — to work with Creston Fire Rescue personnel to remove the trash from an area in which many training exercises have been held.

“Of the debris in this area, 90 per cent was pulled out, deputy chief Mike Moore said on Monday. “Both men would like to come back in the summer and pick up the rest of the small stuff that can’t be seen from the bridge and possibly clean up some of the canyon walls. It took several hours on Nov. 5 to build a twin track highline to raise and lower down into the canyon to remove some of the debris. On Sunday, a different technique, a deflection system was utilized, providing the fire department personnel with some great experience.”

Washing machines, computer equipment, televisions and road signs were among the debris removed.

“Special thanks to Kevin Gimby of Canyon-Lister Fire Department for hauling all of the garbage and debris away in his pick-up,” Moore said. “Kevin has been participating in rope rescue training in the Creston fire department for the past year and was delighted to come out and help in this project as well.”