The Kent Fire Department cleared two fallen trees that created a hazard for kayakers on the Cuyahoga River Tuesday afternoon. 

The fallen trees completely blocked the river and left no clear passage for paddlers to get through. 

Fire officials were able to cut the fallen trees with help from members of the Portage County Water Rescue Team and Davey Tree Expert Company. 

Crews were able to remove the hazard without disturbing the wildlife area surrounding them. 

“We opened it enough so there’s a safe passage through there,” Kent Fire Captain David Moore said. “We feel pretty confident that the general hazard is away.” 

This project happened two days after the department responded to a group of kayakers who overturned in the river.  

According to fire officials, the group switched their route from upriver to downriver to avoid the hazard near north Fairchild Avenue. 

After changing their course, kayakers were met with fast-flowing rapids that caused them to overturn. 

“The water might look like fun but it’s beyond their [paddlers’] control,” Moore said. “That’s what happened Saturday […] the river was higher than they expected and the flow was stronger than they expected.”

All kayakers were able to self-rescue and safely get out of the water with minor injuries, the department posted on Facebook.

“Always follow safe practices,” the department said in the post. “Scout your route, share your plans, wear a life jacket and learn good paddling skills.” 

The department also urges kayakers to check the river flow before venturing out to the river. 

A good flow rate can be 100 to 300 cubic feet per second (CFS). Anything over 500 CFS should be kept for experienced paddlers. 

Kayakers who overturned Saturday were traveling at a flow rate of 900 CFS.

Erin Sullivan is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].