Beginning this weekend local swimmers will have a new resource to help keep them safe at Lake Wilderness and soon at Pipe Lake.

Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety, the City of Maple Valley, and other partners are working together to build life jacket loaner stations that allow people at these lakes to borrow the jackets and return them when finished.

Firefighters realize that not everyone has a life jacket or remembers to bring it when they spend the day at a local lake. The stations will contain life jackets for a variety of ages and sizes. They will also have instructions posted that will help users select the life jacket that will offer them the best protection.

There will be three life jacket stations. Two are on Lake Wilderness, and will be set up at Lake Wilderness Park and directly across the lake at Lake Forest Estates. The third station will be at the beach near the clubhouse on Pipe Lake.

Fire Chief Aaron Tyerman said if community members use the life jackets, they will have a safer and more enjoyable time.

“As a former paramedic, I’ve seen the consequences of people who don’t have a life jacket. These stations will help our residents and visitors stay safe when they go to our beautiful lakes and parks,” he said. “Maple Valley Fire is very grateful for our community partners, the city, the firefighters union and the benevolent fund for working together.”