Kingsville Fire Chief: Enjoy Gunpowder River Responsibly

The Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company’s swift water rescue team twice plunged down into the Gunpowder River in June: once to pull a man and a dog out of a drainage pipe, the other, to recover a missing kayaker’s body.

Read: Body of Kayaker Found in Gunpowder River

With Independence Day just around the corner, it is likely more Perry Hall residents will consider a dip in the Gunpowder to enjoy kayaking, tubing or general swimming. Kingsville’s fire chief Michael Berma wants make sure anyone cooling off in the river, does so safely.

“Everyone wants to enjoy the park and the outdoors and that’s what it’s there for, but you have to do it wisely,” Berma, a 30-year veteran of the volunteer company, said. “Unfortunately, people do not respect or understand the power of moving water. When they get in trouble it happens very quickly.

“Everything is compressed. Before you know it, you’re usually trapped on something or your foot could be stuck on something. Moving water is relentless and powerful. … But still there is a way to enjoy these activities,” he continued. 

He stressed the common sense safety measures: don’t drink alcohol or use recreational drugs before going in the water and most certainly use a personal flotation device. 

“I think if the gentleman had one on a few weeks ago, he wouldn’t have been in the position that he was in,” Berma said of the tragic death of Daniel Travis Deamond. The 26-year-old Parkville resident’s body was found under a pile of debris on the morning of June 15, hours after his kayak flipped over.  

“He would’ve still been pinned, but it’s possible he would’ve been pinned above the water line and not under it,” Berma said.

The Kingsville company is one of three stations in the county with a swift water rescue team. Berma said the crew is called into action for a river rescue on average five times over the summer, but recent heavy rain and high water forced their intervention twice in June.

“It’s really weather dependent. As the water is higher … things happen quicker,” Berma said.

“If you’re going to go kayaking or tubing, make sure you do it with another person,” Berma continued. “Have a float friend.  Let somebody know where you’re going to be, and where you’re anticipating getting out and at what time. If you’re swimming, boating or tubing in the natural environment … it’s really smart to wear a personal floatation device.”

Two weeks before the Kingsville firefighters pulled Deamond’s body from the river, a team of rescuers had to pull a man and his neighbor’s dog out of the drainage pipe that passes under Belair Road.

The dog was playing in the water when it began drifting away. The dog’s owner’s neighbor spotted the struggling dog and dove in after it.

“He was holding on to the very corner of it, just down inside the pipe,” Berma said. “He was in a pretty bad way. If he would’ve gone any further through the bridge he would’ve went into a debris pile and would’ve been pinned either on it or under it.”