Flares Encouraged on Boats

Provincial Police are reminding area boaters about the importance of having good working marine flares on board.

It comes in the wake of a weekend rescue of two American boaters who found themselves stranded on Rainy Lake for two days.

OPP Constable Anne McCoy says it make sense to have flares when traveling the lake.

"We think there are such small bays on Rainy Lake," says McCoy, "and you're really not technically a mile from shore at any given area, but you may get blown into a back bay like this vessel did."

The boaters became stranded when their engine gave out and they drifted into an area not visible by passing boaters.