For some reason, EVERY TIME we have enough rain to make the flood channels actually flow, at least one person decides to take a swim or something, causing your local fire fighters to get out the swiftwater rescue gear and get ready to get wet.

I ventured out after the big storms passed through to get some pictures of the flood channels FROM A SAFE DISTANCE when I noticed a fire engine on the Chapman Ave bridge over the Santa Ana River.  When I looked north, I could see flashing lights from other engines across all the bridges visible from that spot.  I found out later that 2 young teenage boys were playing in the water when they were swept away.  One boy was plucked out of the water just minutes later, but the other boy was not found.  He’s not expected to be found alive.

More information and pictures after the jump. Though the water in the washes rarely gets deeper than 5 feet, the force at which the water moves is strong enough to knock a person off their feet very easily.  And should a person get swept away, even if the person is a strong swimmer, all the debris in the water pose significant hazards.

So if you are considering going to play in the water when it’s raining, please don’t.  You are putting your life, and most likely several fire fighters’ lives at risk.  Plus, do you really want to touch that filthy runoff water?

(All pictures by yours truly.  Clickun to biggun.)