EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 With a heat advisory in place across the Borderland and several hiker rescues reported over the past week, El Paso fire officials are urging people to take extra precautions before heading outdoors.<\/p>\n
The El Paso Fire Department\u2019s Office of Emergency Management said that while it has responded to multiple rescues involving hikers in the past week, planning before going outside could help avoid an emergency. <\/p>\n
Speaking to KFOX14\/CBS4 on Tuesday, Battalion Chief Brandon Kovach, special operations chief with the El Paso Fire Department, encouraged people not to hike alone and to make sure someone knows their plans.<\/p>\n
\u201cMake sure you go out with a friend, let somebody know where you are going,\u201d Kovach said. <\/p>\n
Kovach also stressed the importance of bringing enough water and being prepared in case of an emergency.<\/p>\n
“Ensure that you’re not taking a small bottle of water. You should be taking at least two liters of water out with you. Also take out a little snack pack to go along with that. And just also make sure that when you do go out, make sure your phones are charged all the way in case you do have an emergency,” Kovach said. <\/p>\n
He also urged hikers to check the forecast and plan around extreme heat, including starting early and avoiding staying out too late.<\/p>\n
\u201cCheck the weather, and if you see that it’s going to be over 100 degrees, please make sure that you either start your hike early in the morning or later in the evening. Well, with that, make sure you’re not staying out way too late, and if you are, make sure you take a flashlight with you, but make sure you’re off the mountains before it gets too past dark,\u201d Kovach said.<\/p>\n
El Paso Fire also encouraged hikers to download the \u201cWhat Three Words\u201d app, which can provide a user\u2019s location in case of an emergency.<\/p>\n
“That app will provide hikers with their location, so if they do get into an emergency, they can go ahead and let dispatch know what those three words are and then we can come and find them. Please, again, have a plan, go with a friend, let somebody know where you’re gonna be, let them know what time you’re going to be returning. So in the case that situation presents that you’re not back on time, then we have an idea of where you might be located,” Kovach said. <\/p>\n
The reminders come after a hiker in critical condition was rescued from the Franklin Mountains in Northeast El Paso last week after falling 20 to 30 feet while rappelling the previous day.<\/p>\n
Kovach said the department has resources available for rescues, including specialized teams and equipment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe typically have about 10 to 15 COMSAR members on duty per day. And when we combine that with the El Paso Police Department, we have a lot of resources available at our discretion to send up for a rescue. We can be sending anything up from just backpacks or UTVs, ATVs,\u201d Kovach said.<\/p>\n
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