Ahead of hurricane Sally and any flooding it may bring, firefighters with Glade Fire & Rescue were participating in water rescue training on Sunday afternoon. Firefighters met at Bogue Homa Lake to train on the boat, designed specifically for water rescues.
The boat is an Inmar Marine Group Kodiak style boat with a 40 horsepower motor.
Firefighters are able to physically carry the boat from land to the water, utilizing the attached wheels. The inflatable boat can carry up to ten adults and only drafts six inches of water, enabling it to be used in very shallow water.
Historically, fire departments in the Jones County have had to identify and contact good samaritans in the community willing to assist with a boat and then wait on them for an extended period of time. In these situations, time is of the essence and often can mean life and death. Glade VFD now has a boat designed for water rescues ready to deploy at a moments notice, which will significantly shorten the time period from the time of call to the rescue itself.
Hopefully, the hurricane doesn’t impact the area terribly, but if the county sustains any flooding, Glade VFD is ready to assist with water rescues and has three firefighters trained to operate this special equipment.