Belleville Fire and Emergency Services is reminding boaters to stay safe on the Bay of Quinte this summer and advising what to do should an emergency occur.
Boat operators who encounter an emergency on the water should contact Prescott Coast Guard on Marine Radio Channel 16 who will then dispatch assistance.
If Belleville firefighters are dispatched to an emergency, they will make contact with the occupants and safely transport them to shore if their vessel cannot return on its own.
Belleville Fire and Emergency Services say they cannot tow any vessel to shore.
In such a case, a boat would be anchored, if possible, and the Joint Rescue Control Centre in Trenton will be notified so it can organize recovery efforts.
This was the situation earlier this week when city firefighters responded to a boat on fire and taking water, off the shore of the Herchimer Boat Launch.
Luckily the fire was quickly extinguished and a Belleville fire rescue boat went out to retrieve the five people on board the vessel.
The JRCC was contacted to bring the boat to shore.
