Fire district officials from St. Louis and Jefferson counties are warning the public about the dangers of swimming in local rivers following four drownings each in the Big River and the Meramec River over the past two months.
“We don’t recommend swimming in rivers, period,” High Ridge Fire Protection District Capt. John Barton said. “There is really no room for error. It doesn’t matter how good a swimmer you are.”
Eleven people have drowned in the Big River since 2016, including four who drowned since May of this year.
The first drowning in the Big River this year was James Evans, 11, of Cedar Hill, who died May 23 in the Cedar Hill area. Evans was wearing a life jacket and swimming with adults nearby.
The second drowning was Bennette E. Oxendine, 59, of High Ridge, who died June 11 while swimming without a life jacket near Byrnes Mill City Park.
The third drowning was Monica P. Boyer, 67, of Cadet, who died June 15 at the Washington State Park boat access southwest of De Soto in Washington County, where she was wading and fell into deeper water.
The fourth drowning was Michael J. Lewis, 25, of Granite City, Ill., who went missing on June 17 and was found dead in the river at Rockford Beach on June 19.
Eight people have drowned in the Meramec River since 2016, including the four this swimming season.
All the drownings on the Meramec River this year occurred outside Jefferson County and did not involve county residents.
The Mississippi River has had 19 drownings since 2016, but none this year.
Rockford Beach, Byrnes Mill City Park
Rockford Beach Park, a county park off Hwy. W in House Springs, and Byrnes Mill City Park, off Lower Byrnes Mill Road, both provide access to the Big River, and both are in the High Ridge Fire Protection District’s coverage area.
“Our main area of concern is Rockford Beach,” Barton said. “Rockford Beach is a great picnic area. I have heard it is very good for fishing. Rockford Beach has a lot to offer, but swimming is not one of them.”
He said it is “rare” to get calls for drownings and water rescues at Byrnes Mill City Park.
Byrnes Mill Police Capt. Jamie Mayberry said a city ordinance prohibits swimming at the city park.
“We don’t want to discourage someone from using our park, but we don’t want someone to get out there and get injured or lose their life,” he said.
Mayberry said to his knowledge the Police Department has never issued a ticket to someone for swimming at the park.
Mayberry said in June 2019 the department purchased eight ResQ Discs – a piece of equipment that has a floatation device on the end of a rope. He said one is kept in the back of every patrol car in case a police officer is the first to arrive on the scene of a water rescue.
Barton said the High Ridge District has two boats and all firefighters have some level of water rescue training.
Cedar Hill Park, Morse Mill Park
Cedar Hill Fire Protection District Chief Mick Fischer said he advises people against swimming in both Cedar Hill Park on Cedar Hill Road and Morse Mill Park on Park Road, both on the Big River.
He recommends they just “enjoy the beach.”
“The areas that have been made river accessible that used to or still do have dams create dangerous swimming conditions,” he said. “If (visitors) are going to decide to swim in the water, they should first and foremost make sure they know how to swim and have a life jacket.”
Fischer also advises against drinking alcoholic beverages if you are going to swim.
“Physical impairment leads to risk of drowning,” he said.
Fischer said many people drown because they get caught in a current and tire out after fighting the current.
So he instructs those who may get caught in a current to just float and let the river take them downstream.
“What people can do to help themselves the most is to float and let the river take them where it will take them,” he said.
Fischer said Cedar Hill Fire has two boats and about half the department’s personnel are trained in swift-water rescue.
Meramec, Mississippi rivers
The Eureka Fire Protection District covers parts of the Big River and the Meramec River, with access points on the Meramec in Allenton, Route 66 State Park and the Pacific Palisades in Pacific, said Scott Barthelmass, the district's public information officer.
Barthelmass said many people use river accesses for floating or canoeing. He encourages everyone to wear a life jacket and always be careful.
“All the rivers you have undertow, brush, trees that are under the water,” he said.
Barthelmass said he hopes people listen to fire officials’ advice.
“We are trying to build awareness and education to prevent further incidents,” he said.
Barthelmass stressed the importance of having a plan, not swimming in a river if you are not a good swimmer, having a buddy and being careful when drinking alcoholic beverages.
He said Eureka Fire has three rescue boats and all firefighters have some level of water rescue training.
Saline Valley Fire Protection District Chief Tom Dunn said he has seen an increase in calls for drownings or water rescue calls.
“I think some of it has to do with people getting outside more after
COVID,” he said. “It’s not like we go and watch the river and see if people are more active, but it seems like people are more active this year.”
Dunn’s district covers part of the Meramec River, including George Winter Park on Allen Road, where a boat hit a rock at night on June 12, leading to one person’s death and several others being injured.
Dunn said that if you plan to use a boat on the river make sure it is fully fueled before leaving.
“The secondary thing if you are piloting a boat, pay attention to the river and your surroundings,” Dunn said.
He said it’s also important to have a cell phone.
“You would be surprised how many people get in a boat without a cell phone,” he said.
Dunn said he does not recommend swimming in the Meramec. “The Meramec is not the best place to swim just because of the currents in the river,” he said.
Saline Valley Fire has two boats, and all firefighters are swift water-rescue trained.
Unlike other fire districts, the Rock Community Fire Protection District has not seen an increase in water rescue calls this year, Chief Jeff Broombaugh said.
However, he said both the Meramec and Mississippi rivers can be dangerous.
“Mississippi is more of a concern because of currents and debris,” he said. “People have to understand the water they are getting into. Lakes and ponds are different from rivers.”
Metro West Fire Protection District public information officer Matt Coppin said his district’s main water access is at Castlewood State Park, which has Meramec River access.
“Our recommendation is to stay out of the water,” he said. “It’s really sad and kind of heartbreaking that these calls could be prevented with a life jacket.”
He said Metro West has four boats and a dive team named “DIVE 33,” which travels all over St. Louis and Jefferson counties.
The Crystal City Fire Department has received no water rescue calls yet this spring and summer, Chief Tony Bova said.
“We usually don’t have many accidents on the river, he said. “We are lucky and fortunate for that,” he said.
Bova said people can access the Mississippi River from the Plattin Rock Boat Club, 1 Hugs Landing Road in Crystal City.
He said people mainly use the river access for boating. “I’ve never known of anyone really swimming in the Mississippi,” he said.
Bova said if you are boating to watch your surroundings. “The main thing is to wear your life jacket at all times,” he said. “Don’t go out there and drink beer and do something stupid.”
He said the department has one boat and about three quarters of the department’s firefighters have water rescue training.