Water rescues prompt officials to stage more resources near the Rio Grande

TONIGHT. RON, JOE, THANK YOU. A BUSY HOLIDAY WEEKEND HAS SOME NEW MEXICANS SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS, SOME ENJOYING WATER ACTIVITIES, BUT OFFICIALS ARE WARNING TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS WHEN SPENDING TIME NEAR RIVERS. REPORTER ANDRES VALLE JOINS US LIVE NOW FROM RIO GRANDE, WHERE OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN BUSY WITH WATER RESCUES UNDER THIS. YEAH, RON, THAT’S EXTREMELY RIGHT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE AGENCIES STATIONED ALONG THE RIO GRANDE JUST TO BE PREPARED FOR ANY WATER RESCUES. I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE SCENES RIGHT BEHIND ME. THIS WATER IS MOVING EXTREMELY FAST. THE RAPIDS JUST REALLY RIPPING DOWN, BUT ALSO THAT DEBRIS TO STUCK IN THE IN THE RIVER RIGHT NOW. BUT AGENCIES ARE OFFICIALS ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE MAKING SURE THAT ANYBODY WHO PLANS ON JUMPING INTO THE RIVER HAS TO WEAR A LIFE VEST STRETCH HERE BETWEEN AT SIPHON BEACH FURTHER SOUTH IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF ALL THE DEBRIS THAT HAS BEEN WASHED AWAY. LIFE VESTS ARE THE LAW. HAVE TO HAVE A LIFE JACKET ON. IT IS THE LAW. FAST MOVING WATER IS RACING DOWN THE RIO GRANDE. THEN MULTIPLE AGENCIES STATIONED ALONG THE RIVER READY TO BE DISPERSED AT ANY SECOND IN CASE OF WATER. RESCUE NEEDS TO HAPPEN. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO BE ON THE RIVER. WHAT WE’RE SAYING IS FOLLOW THE RULES, HAVE A LIFE VEST AND BE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU’RE NOT EXPERIENCED, MAYBE GO TO A SWIMMING POOL. THIS RIVER IS VERY DANGEROUS. AND IF YOU’RE NOT EXPERIENCED, YOU COULD GET CAUGHT UP IN DEBRIS AND YOU COULD DIE. DEBRIS IN THE RIVER INCREASING THE RISK FOR WATER RESCUES. WE FIRST ARRIVED TO AN AREA IN BERNALILLO WHERE A COUPLE WITH NO LIFE JACKETS ATTEMPTED TO FLOAT THE RIVER. A SANDOVAL FIRE RESCUE OFFICER SPRINGING INTO ACTION AND RUNNING TOWARDS THEM BEFORE THEY JUMPED IN MOMENTS LATER, THEY’RE SEEN LEAVING THE RIVER TO GO BUY LIFE JACKETS. AND I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE WATER IS VERY SWIFT AND THEY DO NEED A LIFE JACKET ON NOT GOING IN THIS RIVER. I WOULDN’T TAKE GO IN THAT RIVER WITHOUT A LIFE JACKET BECAUSE I CAN’T SWIM THE WHOLE DAY. BRINGING OUT MORE PEOPLE OUT TO THE RIVER. FIRE CREWS SEEN HERE ASSISTING THOSE IN CANOES INTO THE WATER, BUT IT’S STILL WARNING THEM ABOUT THE DANGERS DOWNSTREAM. AND WE’RE OUT HERE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE BEING SAFE AND HAVE FUN. BUT JUST PLEASE FOLLOW THE RULES. AND IF YOU’RE A BEGINNER, STAY AWAY. AND SO FAR, FIRE CHIEF MARTINEZ IS TOLD ME THEY’VE DONE NO WATER RESCUE SO FAR, BUT THEY’VE COME CLOSE. THEY’VE ONLY ASSISTED PEOPLE WHO FALLEN OFF THEIR BOATS BACK INTO THEIR BOATS, REPORTING AT SIPHON BEACH AND CORRALES ANDRES VALLE KOAT ACTION. SEVEN NEWS CREWS SAY PORTIONS OF THE RIVER ARE EIGHT FEET DEEP AND THEY’RE ASKING THE PUBLIC TO

A busy day along the Rio Grande, with multiple agencies on standby in case water rescues need to happen. The holiday weekend brought an increase in people cooling off in the river."It's a beautiful day to be on the river. What we're saying is follow the rules, have a life and be, you know, if you're not experienced, maybe go to a swimming pool. This river is very dangerous. And if you're not experienced, you could get caught up in debris, and you could die," said Anthony Martinez, the Corrales fire chief.Our news team observed Sandoval Fire Rescue officers in Bernalillo stopping a couple from jumping into the water without life jackets.Meanwhile, Bernalillo Fire Department airboats were also seen patrolling the river as a safety precaution. Making those who are out enjoying the river feel safer." I feel good. I think that's pretty good that they're doing that. You know, I see them on their boat, doing their rounds. And I think it's very important," said Victor Parea."I think people should be aware that the water is very swift, and they do need a life jacket on not going in this river. I wouldn't go in that river without a life jacket because I can't swim," said Carol Schwartz.Officials say the stretch near Siphon Beach in Corrales down towards Alameda is dangerous for beginners. According to Chief Martinez, they've performed 29 water rescues so far this year, which is more than they had this time last year."We figure if we're gonna get called out here anyways, we might as well be staged here, try to inform the public, try to prevent, that's our job," said Martinez.

CORRALES, N.M. —

A busy day along the Rio Grande, with multiple agencies on standby in case water rescues need to happen. The holiday weekend brought an increase in people cooling off in the river.

"It's a beautiful day to be on the river. What we're saying is follow the rules, have a life and be, you know, if you're not experienced, maybe go to a swimming pool. This river is very dangerous. And if you're not experienced, you could get caught up in debris, and you could die," said Anthony Martinez, the Corrales fire chief.

Our news team observed Sandoval Fire Rescue officers in Bernalillo stopping a couple from jumping into the water without life jackets.

Meanwhile, Bernalillo Fire Department airboats were also seen patrolling the river as a safety precaution. Making those who are out enjoying the river feel safer.

" I feel good. I think that's pretty good that they're doing that. You know, I see them on their boat, doing their rounds. And I think it's very important," said Victor Parea.

"I think people should be aware that the water is very swift, and they do need a life jacket on not going in this river. I wouldn't go in that river without a life jacket because I can't swim," said Carol Schwartz.

Officials say the stretch near Siphon Beach in Corrales down towards Alameda is dangerous for beginners.

According to Chief Martinez, they've performed 29 water rescues so far this year, which is more than they had this time last year.

"We figure if we're gonna get called out here anyways, we might as well be staged here, try to inform the public, try to prevent, that's our job," said Martinez.

Water rescues prompt officials to stage more resources near the Rio Grande

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