Following several fatal incidents on the Potomac River this summer, the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service is reminding visitors that its Swift Water Rescue Team patrols the Great Falls area every Saturday to help prevent dangerous situations before they become emergencies.
According to MCFRS spokesperson David Pazos, Swift Water Team members spend Saturdays on the Potomac River and around Great Falls monitoring for unsafe behavior near the shoreline and in the water. Their primary goal is to ensure that no one enters the Potomac River, which is known for its powerful currents, submerged hazards and rapidly changing water conditions.
The safety patrols come after the recovery of three people who died in separate incidents on the Potomac River this summer. Most recently, the body of a man who went missing near Spotzbergen Rock was recovered Thursday following a three-day search involving rescue boats, sonar equipment and search dogs. Earlier this month, crews recovered the body of a 16-year-old boy who disappeared while swimming near Great Falls, and in June, rescuers recovered the body of 20-year-old Germantown resident and Towson University student Nazir Bell after a three-day search.
MCFRS continues to urge visitors to stay out of the Potomac River and obey all posted warning signs and barriers while enjoying Great Falls and surrounding park areas. Officials say the river’s conditions can become deadly within seconds, even for experienced swimmers.
Every Saturday in the summer @mcfrs Swift Water Team crews go on the Potomac River/Great Falls and try to prevent unsafe acts near the shores or in the water. Today they will be monitoring no one enters the Potomac River-for everyone's safety. Be safe and enjoy the weather. pic.twitter.com/8sm7ck6cme
— Pazos@mcfrsPIO (@DavidPazos15) August 1, 2026
