Fire Photography in S.E. Wisconsin
CITY OF RACINE FIRE DEPARTMENT
810 Eighth Street
Racine WI 53403
Press Release
DATE: March 23, 2009
At 1907 hours the Racine Fire Department was dispatched on a report of an overturned boat or kayak in the water off Meyers Park in the small basin behind the Gateway Technical College. The report also stated there possibly was a person in the water, and that there was the possibility of a personal floatation device (PFD) still attached to the boat. This reported incident occurred at dusk as nightfall was overtaking the area. Strong Winds out of the Southeast were creating significant waves on Lake Michigan and in the area between the break wall and shore.
At about the same time the Racine County Water Rescue Response Team was notified bringing rescue divers not only from Racine Fire Department but also brought rescue divers from the Racine County Sheriffs Department, South Shore Fire Department and the Mt Pleasant Police Department. All are members of a unified team of rescue divers in Racine County whose purpose is to respond to any and all water related emergencies in the county. All departments and team members train together on a regular basis for large scale incidents such as this one.
At 1916 hours the overturned boat or kayak was identified about 150 yards off shore and almost due east from 1845 South Wisconsin Avenue. Water Rescue Command was then moved to the Carre-Hogle Park located south of 16th and Main Street. At the same time Air One Helicopter from Waukegan IL was contacted along with the US Coast Guard which dispatched a water patrol boat out of Kenosha, and another Helicopter from Traverse City, Michigan. Rescue Divers from Racine Fire Department, the Sheriffs Department, Mt Pleasant PD, and South Shore Fire suited up for a possible rescue attempt if a victim could be located.
Racine Fire Department deployed their Zodiac inflatable boat from Meyer’s Park near Gateway and traversed the rough seas, approximately ½ mile to the overturned boat. Upon arrival Racine Fire Department rescue divers determined the boat was in fact a canoe which had been heavily damaged possibly through an impact with the break wall located just off shore. There were no PFDs in the canoe. The canoe was towed to shore and removed from the water at about 1940 hours.
With the heavy surf and strong winds out of the southeast, Air One Helicopter arrived on scene and was directed to search the shoreline, using their high power search light, for any PFD’s or victims from what appeared to be a boating accident. The US Coast Guard arrived and began searching the break wall just off shore. By 1945 hours darkness had set in and visibility was limited.
Racine Fire Department Support personnel along with members of the Sheriffs Department, Mt Pleasant Police Department and South Shore Fire initiated an extensive search of the shore line for any possible victim. The area covered stretched from Gateway Technical College at Meyers Park south to the Racine Waste Water Treatment Plant. A distance of approximately ¾ miles. The area was extensively searched for over two hours.
At about 2030 hours the Incident Commander received information that the boat may have been washed out of the river last year and may have been adrift in Lake Michigan since June of 2008. Through some quick research Racine Fire Department Captain Steve Cariello was able to identify the owner of the boat who later arrived on the scene to in fact identify the boat. The owner indicated the boat floated down river in June of 2008 during the heavy flooding. The canoe had been adrift in the lake for 9 months. There was no victims and no PFDs.
While this incident certainly had a happy ending through the dedicated efforts of the Racine County Water Rescue Response Team we were able to deploy several rescue divers from Racine Fire Department, Racine Sheriffs Department, Mt Pleasant Police, and South Shore fire within minutes of receiving the report of possible victims in the water. This truly was a collective team effort by all departments who have worked together over the last three years to make sure we have the training and resources necessary for virtually any water related emergency in the area.
Unified Command (Law Enforcement and Fire Agencies working together) was established with Fire Chief William Bouma (South Shore Fire), Lt Robert Zortman (Racine Sheriff), Lt Gary Solfest (Racine Fire Department) and Officer John Prochniak (Mt Pleasant PD) providing Dive Command. Incident Command was established by Battalion Chief Mike Irish, and Fire Chief Steve Hansen. Support Agencies included Air One Helicopter, and the US Coast Guard.
We appreciate the efforts of all who were involved with this operation.
-end-
810 Eighth Street
Racine WI 53403
Press Release
DATE: March 23, 2009
At 1907 hours the Racine Fire Department was dispatched on a report of an overturned boat or kayak in the water off Meyers Park in the small basin behind the Gateway Technical College. The report also stated there possibly was a person in the water, and that there was the possibility of a personal floatation device (PFD) still attached to the boat. This reported incident occurred at dusk as nightfall was overtaking the area. Strong Winds out of the Southeast were creating significant waves on Lake Michigan and in the area between the break wall and shore.
At about the same time the Racine County Water Rescue Response Team was notified bringing rescue divers not only from Racine Fire Department but also brought rescue divers from the Racine County Sheriffs Department, South Shore Fire Department and the Mt Pleasant Police Department. All are members of a unified team of rescue divers in Racine County whose purpose is to respond to any and all water related emergencies in the county. All departments and team members train together on a regular basis for large scale incidents such as this one.
At 1916 hours the overturned boat or kayak was identified about 150 yards off shore and almost due east from 1845 South Wisconsin Avenue. Water Rescue Command was then moved to the Carre-Hogle Park located south of 16th and Main Street. At the same time Air One Helicopter from Waukegan IL was contacted along with the US Coast Guard which dispatched a water patrol boat out of Kenosha, and another Helicopter from Traverse City, Michigan. Rescue Divers from Racine Fire Department, the Sheriffs Department, Mt Pleasant PD, and South Shore Fire suited up for a possible rescue attempt if a victim could be located.
Racine Fire Department deployed their Zodiac inflatable boat from Meyer’s Park near Gateway and traversed the rough seas, approximately ½ mile to the overturned boat. Upon arrival Racine Fire Department rescue divers determined the boat was in fact a canoe which had been heavily damaged possibly through an impact with the break wall located just off shore. There were no PFDs in the canoe. The canoe was towed to shore and removed from the water at about 1940 hours.
With the heavy surf and strong winds out of the southeast, Air One Helicopter arrived on scene and was directed to search the shoreline, using their high power search light, for any PFD’s or victims from what appeared to be a boating accident. The US Coast Guard arrived and began searching the break wall just off shore. By 1945 hours darkness had set in and visibility was limited.
Racine Fire Department Support personnel along with members of the Sheriffs Department, Mt Pleasant Police Department and South Shore Fire initiated an extensive search of the shore line for any possible victim. The area covered stretched from Gateway Technical College at Meyers Park south to the Racine Waste Water Treatment Plant. A distance of approximately ¾ miles. The area was extensively searched for over two hours.
At about 2030 hours the Incident Commander received information that the boat may have been washed out of the river last year and may have been adrift in Lake Michigan since June of 2008. Through some quick research Racine Fire Department Captain Steve Cariello was able to identify the owner of the boat who later arrived on the scene to in fact identify the boat. The owner indicated the boat floated down river in June of 2008 during the heavy flooding. The canoe had been adrift in the lake for 9 months. There was no victims and no PFDs.
While this incident certainly had a happy ending through the dedicated efforts of the Racine County Water Rescue Response Team we were able to deploy several rescue divers from Racine Fire Department, Racine Sheriffs Department, Mt Pleasant Police, and South Shore fire within minutes of receiving the report of possible victims in the water. This truly was a collective team effort by all departments who have worked together over the last three years to make sure we have the training and resources necessary for virtually any water related emergency in the area.
Unified Command (Law Enforcement and Fire Agencies working together) was established with Fire Chief William Bouma (South Shore Fire), Lt Robert Zortman (Racine Sheriff), Lt Gary Solfest (Racine Fire Department) and Officer John Prochniak (Mt Pleasant PD) providing Dive Command. Incident Command was established by Battalion Chief Mike Irish, and Fire Chief Steve Hansen. Support Agencies included Air One Helicopter, and the US Coast Guard.
We appreciate the efforts of all who were involved with this operation.
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