City installing permanent fencing, looking at fines around Albion Falls

The city is putting fencing around part of Albion Falls, and is looking at eventually fining people after yet another dramatic weekend of rope rescues.

On Sunday, fire crews lifted a boy on a stretcher from Albion Falls. He was transported to hospital. On Saturday, a male hiker was saved via rope rescue at Webster Falls.

These are just the latest in a series of incidents at Hamilton's waterfalls particularly Albion Falls, which has a cascading formation seemingly irresistible to visitors that have the city looking at ways to stop the injuries and deaths.

A group of city, conservation authority and emergency officials is looking at, among other options, more signs, extended fencing and other barriers, including natural barriers such as rocks and vegetation, said Coun. Tom Jackson of Ward 6.

AroundAlbionFalls, the city will install chain link fencing on Mountain Brow Boulevard, across from the Arbour Road parking lot. Fencing will block the steps going down to the falls.

They're also working with Bruce Trail members to identify and mark safe pathways. And possibly some new laws that would result in fines.

"WithAlbionFalls, we're looking at something that will have more teeth for the police, for the bylaw officers, even for the fire department," Jackson said.

The city put up temporary orange fencing in front of warning signs at Albion Falls on Friday, only to have someone pull it back by the time the boy fell on Sunday, Jackson said. That "was very upsetting."

"The overwhelming majority of the thousands of people visiting these sites are doing it with care, with caution, common sense, figuring out where they should go, where they shouldn't go," he said.

The decision comes after an increase in injuries and deaths at local waterfalls.

In 2016, emergency crews performed 25 rope rescues the largest number in at least seven years. Six of those were at Albion Falls.

This year is on track to be similar, particularly at Albion. In June, a man in his early 20s slipped from what friends say they thought was an "older path" and died. Emergency crews rescued two of his friends too. Days earlier, another woman was rescued at Albion.