Firefighters showcase their water rescue capabilities ahead of potential rainfall

Fire personnel are no strangers to rescuing people who need help. That includes water rescues across the valley during periods of rain.

Tommy Ibarra, a firefighter with Palm Springs Fire Department, says there's a simple way to stay safe: "We always say like the famous phrase: 'turn around, don't drown.' Unfortunately, you know, it doesn't always work out. If they're in there, we're going to go grab them if we can.”

Personnel have a variety of tools at their disposal in the event they need to perform swiftwater rescues.

Swiftwater technicians – specially trained firefighters that are ready to jump into the water to rescue stranded motorists or pedestrians – have "technician bags." Inside, personal flotation devices, dive knives, whistles, a helmet, and fins, all of which are protective equipment to keep them safe while in the water.

Underneath all that gear, they'll also wear bright red dry suits. This helps keep them safe from any waterborne hazards flowing through the water.

"The hazards that we face are not just the water. You can drown in the water, in the turbulent water in the white wash ... We're [also] talking about an urban environment. So we've got electricity, we've got gas lines, we have concrete that are flowing through. We have everything you could think of, lawn chairs, everything you could think of that gets washed away down during a swiftwater rescue or swiftwater incident is in that water and creating a danger to us," Deputy Chief Greg Lyle explains.

Other tools include inflatable rescue boats, or IRBs, which are used to transport multiple technicians to a stranded person.

Deputy Chief Lyle also showed off a line gun, which shoots a brass rod several hundred feet. The rod is typically attached to a line, which firefighters use to build a rescue system with.

Also, Palm Springs Fire Department's aerial ladder truck is also a key utility. The truck can extend its 105-foot ladder to essentially make a bridge to a stranded individual.

Geographically, the Coachella Valley is a prime place for flash flooding.

"Palm Springs, because of where we sit geographically, we experience flash flooding. We experienced this urban flooding environment every year," Lyle says. "It's surprising to the public – why does Palm Springs firemen have boats? Because we use them."

With the local risk of flooding, firefighters say the department encourages them to receive swiftwater technician training. The 40-hour course is held in classes across the state over a week.

Firefighters reiterate – use caution during this incoming rain storm, and remember that even small amounts of water can pose a risk to a person or vehicle. It takes just a couple of feet of fast-moving water to sweep a vehicle away, down the wash and towards the Salton Sea.

The Palm Springs Fire Department also says they're hiring. Applications are open in February if you want to join the team.