Photo: Mike Biden

The Penticton Fire Department responded to its first rescue request of the season from Penticton Channel floaters early Thursday afternoon, though luckily it was straightforward and nobody was hurt. 

A group of four had floated down the fast-moving waterway and reached the end a little quicker than they bargained for. 

"They ended up going under the bridge and out into the water and they got a little distressed so they called for help," said deputy fire chief Chris Forster, explaining they were quickly pulled to shore by fire crews when they arrived on scene. 

"There was no panic or medical emergency or anything, everything was fine."

It does serve as a reminder that the current is moving fast in the channel right now, and there is good reason for the signage at the Skaha Lake Road bridge saying not to float under it. 

"Once you get past the bridge, there's undertows and current that starts taking you out, and even if you have a paddle it's hard to overcome it, and next thing you know you're 200, 300 feet out in the lake," Forster said.

"Even when it's normal or light flow conditions, once you're past the bridge the current takes you over."