2 rescued from Willamette River Saturday as water rescues skyrocket near Eugene

Eugene-Springfield Fire Department rescued two people from the Willamette River at the low head dam in Glenwood on Saturday afternoon, according to a news release.

Water rescue crews responded to the incident at 2:17 p.m. and performed a boat rescue after finding two people in a dangerous situation on a strainer below the dam.

The two were floating down the Willamette in an inflatable raft, which deflated and became stuck in the strainer, officials said.

ESFD recommends people who float the river past low head dam stay far right to avoid the dangerous obstacle.

Water rescues have become more frequent with holiday heat wave

This is at least the seventh water rescue in the Eugene area amid the scorching temperatures.

On Independence Day, Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue and Marine Patrol deputies, and Eugene-Springfield Fire, responded to six water rescues along both the McKenzie and Willamette rivers.

“We ask the community to make appropriate choices when floating our swift water rivers," ESFD said in the news release. "Cheap inflatable tubes, rafts, kayaks and other floats designed for pools and lakes should not be used on the river. Water rescue calls take a minimum of 3 fire crews and an ambulance out of service to manage.”

Elliott Deins is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at edeins@salem.gannett.com