VANCOUVER, WA (KPTV) -
Vancouver firefighters say two teens are lucky to be safe after they were rescued from a raft found floating down the Columbia River.
Firefighters say the teens found the raft, which was made of wood with a plastic picnic table attached to the top. The teens didn't make it far in the water, getting stuck in some pilings near the I-5 bridge.
A boater called 911 and the Vancouver Fire Rescue Boat quickly found the raft and pulled the teenagers to safety. They were not wearing life jackets, according to firefighters.
"These kids are very fortunate," said Fire Captain Kevin Murray. "If one of them would have fallen into the water, we'd be talking about a different scenario."
Murray says everyone in or near the water needs to wear a life jacket, and he warns the current moves a lot faster than it may look.
He says without following basic water safety, people put not only themselves at risk but firefighter rescuers as well.
"With the hot weather, everyone needs to be safe," urged Murray.
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