CANNING, N.S. — Canning and New Minas volunteer firefighters worked in concert to rescue two people aboard a small boat that was adrift in the Minas Basin July 15.
Around 2:10 p.m., the Canning Fire Department received the distress call and quickly deployed its rescue boat from Kingsport. The New Minas Fire Department was called upon for mutual aid, and they also deployed a boat from Kingsport.
Canning fire chief Jeff Skaling said the missing 13-foot boat had lost power and two people were on board — but their exact location was unknown.
The challenge “was just finding them because they had been drifting for some time and the currents and wind were quite strong. We had an initial GPS location when they called 911 but we had no contact with them after that,” Skaling said.
Cellphone “coverage out on the Minas Basin is poor in places so we weren’t able to make contact with them,” he added.
The firefighters searched the Blomidon peninsula looking for the wayward boat.
The fire department was in contact with the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) in Halifax and made contact with the Department of Natural Resources in case a helicopter was required. However, the firefighters located the boat before any other resources needed to be deployed.
“The conditions were getting pretty rough out there,” said Skaling.
“With the wind and the tide, beyond Blomidon, it was getting pretty choppy,” the fire chief added, noting there were “two to three-foot chops.”
The rescuers arrived at Houston’s Beach in Canning, with the boat in tow. Everyone was ashore by 5 p.m. There were no injuries, and Skaling said about 20 firefighters were involved with the call. He said the firefighters appreciated the assistance from its neighbouring fire department.
Skaling said when people are planning to head out on the water, they need to make sure they’re well prepared.
“Prepare well. Make sure you have all of the gear you need — personal flotation devices, oars, throw bags, a trip plan, cellphone, all those sorts of things you should have if you go out on the water,” said Skaling.
