After stranded kayaker on Battle Creek rescued, Cal Fire warns not to light signal fires
A stranded 24-year-old kayaker was rescued at Battle Creek, and her 'signal' fire snuffed by firefighters, after she went missing Sunday night, according to the Shasta County Sheriff's Office.
A man who told deputies he was the woman's friend reported he last saw her floating in the kayak on a stretch of the creek near Coleman Fish Hatchery Road. He told deputies he waited for her to meet him at the bridge at Gover Road in Anderson. When she didn't show, he searched for her for her with no luck, then called law enforcement for help, according to sheriff's spokesperson Tim Mapes in a news release.
Deputies heard a woman calling for help when they arrived at the creek just before 9:30 p.m., Mapes said in the announcement, but they couldn't immediately find her in the rugged terrain around the creek.
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They eventually used a drone to find the stranded kayaker, who was on land, according to Mapes, and the Sheriff's Swift Water Rescue Team picked her up.
The woman had ignited a fire to show rescuers her location, according to the announcement. 'With Shasta County currently experiencing high fire danger, thankfully that fire was extinguished by fire crews,' Mapes said.
'We're in wildfire season. Lighting an un-permitted fire — even for signaling — can be considered dangerous, reckless or unlawful, particularly during fire restrictions, red flag warnings or designated wildfire seasons.' said Jas Shaw with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Shasta-Trinity Unit.
While the kayaker was lost for five hours, according to Shaw, and was likely frightened, people who get lost in Shasta County shouldn't rely on signal fires. Starting one could cause a wildfire, and possibly injure or kill the lost person and others, she said.
Instead, Shaw recommends hikers, kayakers and people recreating in the wilderness use 'modern signaling methods like a whistle, strobe light" or other safe signaling method.
The rescued kayaker wasn't injured, Mapes said.
The sheriff's office didn't release the woman's name or town of residence, or report if she was unfamiliar with the area.
Cal Fire crews helped deputies with the rescue, according to Mapes.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: After kayaker rescued, Cal Fire cautions not to light signal fires
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