Ottawa firefighters used cell phone signals to help rescue two people who became lost in the South March Mountains Conservation Forest after dark Saturday.
The hikers called 911 around 5:18 p.m. and said they were walking on some ice and heard it crack. The area was unfamiliar to them and they said they did not want to go through the ice a second time. It was about -12 C with a wind chill of -19 at the time and the sun had set about half an hour earlier.
The dispatcher told the hikers to stay put so first responders could use their cell phone signal to find them. A map showing the caller’s location was sent to firefighters’ phones.
Cell phone alerts are a common tool that dispatchers use to help locate 911 callers in a variety of situations.
A map shared by Ottawa Fire Services shows the hikers were in a stretch of woods about a kilometer from Old Second Line Road and Klondike Road.
Using the map, firefighters made their way to the two hikers and found them just before 6:00 p.m. They were unharmed and brought safely out of the woods.
Tips for hiking in winter:
- Tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to be back
- Always plan your route in advance and print a map as a backup. Cell phone batteries die much faster in cold weather.
- Dress for the weather and always bring water and food.
- Always hike with another person.
At approximately 5:18pm last night we received a 911 call from two people who were lost while hiking in the South March Highlands Conservation Forest near Klondike Rd & Old Second Line Rd. The individuals made their way onto some ice and heard it crack. #OttNews 1/3 pic.twitter.com/LS1IX2C20i
— Ottawa Fire Services (@OttFire) January 15, 2023
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