Saturday September 4, 2010

Local News

False Alarm Friday Tests River Readiness

Report of plane crash scrambled all emergency units to Island 22 

Staff/Voice

                                                                                                                                                        Craig Hill/Voice photos

RCMP boat launches at Island 22 Friday night after false alarm report of plane crash on river.

irst responders scrambled early yesterday evening to Island 22 after a report of a light plane crash on the Fraser River early Friday evening. The report later proved to be wrong and that in fact a plane did land normally on the river and the pilot was located safe.

Despite the false alarm, it was an opportunity to test response times and strategies for a real-time river emergency. Search and Rescue, Fire, Ambulance, Fisheries and RCMP were took part in the operation and units were on the scene within minutes of the call and boats were dispatched and on their way. By 5:30pm units were all ordered to stand down.

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