Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Swift Water Rescue Crews are doubling community outreach and education efforts about hazardous conditions in the Potomac River.
MCFRS Swift Water anglers launched two boats to engage the public with the Potomac River and area of Great Falls on Friday. They say they will continue outreach efforts through the weekend. This endeavor comes after two drownings and several near-drownings there.
MCFRS officials say although the water may look calm from shore, the currents underneath can be powerful. On many occasions, patrolling water rescue crews say they’ve observed swimmers in the water near rocks, and jumping off cliffs. Today, they want to remind people that swimming in the Potomac River is dangerous and illegal.
Watch the video in the tweet below for more details about MCFRS Swift Water Rescue crews’ community outreach efforts:
Potomac River & @COcanalNPS associated trail(s) visitor Community Outreach, Education & Engagement @MontgomeryCoMD pic.twitter.com/w6WCIgo620
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 10, 2020
.@mcfrs Capt Ed Russell FS710 (Cabin John Park) Swift Water Rescue shares his observations regarding activity along the Potomac River – 1 ‘exhausted’ swimmer was rescued from a rock near Va shoreline (6/13) as dozens of others were seen swimming in the area (swimming prohibited) pic.twitter.com/gMPRWfuq0x
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) June 14, 2020
