This week’s featured question was submitted for the Merrill Fire Department
The question reads:
“Does the fire department no longer do water rescue, emergencies and so on? I seen a vehicle today marked for the dive team for the sheriff. I am very confused why we need a dive team when we have firemen trained for it. If the fire department no longer does water rescue, why not and when did you stop? If you still do water rescue do you work together with the sheriffs team? Thank you.”
Answer as given by Merrill Fire Chief Dave Savone
“The Merrill Fire Department is tasked with rescue and recovery efforts in aquatic environments. The Merrill Fire Department response district includes over 35 miles of river with the Wisconsin and Prairie Rivers. In addition there are 24 major bodies of water (lakes and ponds) in the Merrill Fire response district.
“The Merrill Fire Department trains for deployment of water and ice rescue teams. The preparation for the entire fire department consists of training on techniques and tactics on swift water, ice, and water rescue. If a victim presents on the surface of the water, a large part of the rescue/recovery effort is directed through visual sight. When the victim submerges below the surface of the water, the rescue/recovery effort uses an entirely different approach. Searching those waterways within the Merrill Fire Department response area can be extremely difficult and hazardous.
“In June of 2015, the Merrill FD had a drowning on the Wisconsin River, and through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), dive teams from Tomahawk Fire Department and Marathon County Sheriff’s Department participated in those recovery operations. Because of the incident the Merrill Fire Department has been working with the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department to develop stronger inter-operable call out procedures and Standing Operation Policies.
“During 2016, the Merrill Fire Department replaced our 1960’s rescue boat with a new state of the art rescue boat. This rescue boat can perform surface rescues and service as a dive platform for dive teams. The boat can also serve as a fire boat to perform pumping and firefighting activities on islands and along shore lines. Along with the rescue boat, the Merrill FD has a Rapid Deployment Craft (RDC) and other required water rescue equipment such as; cold water rescue suits, helmets, specialty rescue equipment to perform numerous types of water and ice related rescue and recovery operations.
“The Merrill Fire Department is tasked with rescue and recovery efforts in aquatic environments. The Merrill Fire Department response district includes over 35 miles of river with the Wisconsin and Prairie Rivers. In addition there are 24 major bodies of water (lakes and ponds) in the Merrill Fire response district.
“The Merrill Fire Department trains for deployment of water and ice rescue teams. The preparation for the entire fire department consists of training on techniques and tactics on swift water, ice, and water rescue. If a victim presents on the surface of the water, a large part of the rescue/recovery effort is directed through visual sight. When the victim submerges below the surface of the water, the rescue/recovery effort uses an entirely different approach. Searching those waterways within the Merrill Fire Department response area can be extremely difficult and hazardous.
“In June of 2015, the Merrill FD had a drowning on the Wisconsin River, and through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), dive teams from Tomahawk Fire Department and Marathon County Sheriff’s Department participated in those recovery operations. Because of the incident the Merrill Fire Department has been working with the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department to develop stronger inter-operable call out procedures and Standing Operation Policies.
“During 2016, the Merrill Fire Department replaced our 1960’s rescue boat with a new state of the art rescue boat. This rescue boat can perform surface rescues and service as a dive platform for dive teams. The boat can also serve as a fire boat to perform pumping and firefighting activities on islands and along shore lines. Along with the rescue boat, the Merrill FD has a Rapid Deployment Craft (RDC) and other required water rescue equipment such as; cold water rescue suits, helmets, specialty rescue equipment to perform numerous types of water and ice related rescue and recovery operations.
Have a question or concern you would like to address? Simply send your question or concern to [email protected] along with an indication of which entity your question or concern pertains to. Current participants are the Merrill Police Department, Merrill Fire Department, Tomahawk Police Department, Lincoln County Administrative Coordinator Randy Scholz, Merrill City Administrator Dave Johnson and Merrill Area Housing Authority Director Paul Russell.Please note: Those who submit to the ‘Ask an Official’ feature remain anonymous.