As the water slowly returns to Lake Tapps, local firefighters warn those who head for the lake to be extra cautious this summer.

“We always need to be mindful that the water in Lake Tapps is very cold. This year is no exception,” said East Pierce Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Ed Goodlet.

The water coming into the lake is diverted from the glacier-fed White River. Ice-cold water can lead to the rapid loss of body heat, even on a hot summer day. “When the body’s temperature drops, blood is shunted away from the arms and legs to protect the core and vital organs, making swimming or even treading water difficult. Within minutes, a person can become disoriented and lose consciousness,” he said.

Responding to water-related emergencies is also a challenge this year. The East Pierce Fire and Rescue Water Rescue Team that was furloughed for six months due to budget cuts will be back on duty beginning July 1. However, the water rescue boat, located at the north end of Lake Tapps, cannot be launched until water levels increase significantly.

“Avoiding the need to be rescued is the best course of action,” said Goodlet. “Boaters and swimmers should be extra careful this year about obstructions just below the surface. The lower-than-normal water levels may just barely be covering stumps and other objects that pose a potential danger,” he says.

He recommends that everyone who is in or near water wear a life jacket. East Pierce offers loaner life jackets at both Lake Tapps parks. There is no cost to borrow the jackets for the day. “We just ask that you return them for other people to borrow,” he said.

The fire department also sells life jackets at a reduced rate from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday at the headquarters station, located at 18421 Veterans Memorial Drive East in Bonney Lake. Jackets in infant, child, youth and adult sizes sell for $14. The cost includes a free fitting. Goodlet says that the low water levels will not affect the ability of firefighters to battle a house fire, since they do not fight residential fires from the lake. “We can still get to every home on the lake by using the surface streets, just as we always have” he said.