Hillsboro fire chief on recreational boating/swimming safety

(Hillsboro) With the Memorial holiday weekend ringing in the unofficial start to summer in a couple of weeks, many emergency responders are reminding people the importance of safety with recreational boating and swimming in area waterways.

Chief Brian Gaudet with the Hillsboro Fire Protection District has a few safety tips.

Not only rivers, but people should be cautious while swimming in lakes as well.

Last year, 18 people died in boating accidents across the state and another 66 people drowned.

So far this year, the highway patrol reports 7 drowning deaths and 3 have died in boating accidents.