A Cochrane Fire Services water rescue team aided a family stranded on an island north of the Ghost reservoir after a thunderstorm tore through the area on Aug. 1.

A couple and their children were caught by surprise by the high winds of the storm and couldn't get back to shore, explains Fire Inspector Jeff Avery. They set course for a small island in the channel with their small craft and dialled 9-1-1.

A two-member rescue team brought the family back to shore in a couple of trips. When the storm subsided, the craft was recovered. No one was injured, nor was the craft damaged.

"It just got too high of winds and that storm hit so they couldn't really get anywhere with it," says Avery.

"They did the right thing. They found where they could dock and be safe and call 9-1-1. We were able to get out there, and in the end, it was a good ending."

Avery says a number of people are taking to local waters to enjoy the summer weather, but it hasn't amounted to a large influx of rescue calls, something he calls good news.

Members of the fire service have recently been completing courses on water rescue disciplines. Some are being recertified while others are being trained to increase the complement of trained personnel available.

That included some training over the August Long Weekend.