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Fire, Sheriff Department Members Train On Rock River
Crews Practiced On A Car That Was In River
UPDATED: 8:23 pm CDT August 7,
2008
JANESVILLE, Wis. -- High water and flooding along the Rock River prevented crews from retrieving a wayward car back in June because it was too dangerous.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportBut on Thursday, the waterlogged car was turned into a training exercise.Janesville Fire and Rock County Sheriff's Rescue Divers rarely have an opportunity to work together, but recovering the submerged vehicle was the perfect opportunity to test each others' skills."You don't want to do this the first time when it happens at 2:00 in the morning. You want to be out here on a day like this, where you can take it easy, take it slowly, learn things, correct your skills," said Lt. Dave Sheen of the Janesville Fire Departments Dive Team.Before recovering the car, divers went through search patterns.The river presents conditions that can't be simulated. The current is faster than it looks."I couldn't do much to fight against it. There was no point in trying a search pattern out there because it's so strong, you won't be able to move at all," said Tim Mauerman, a diver for the Rock County Sheriffs Department. "The rope just pulls tight, and you're not able to do anything."Also, divers can't see more than a foot in front of their masks, WISC-TV reported."Black water diving is very tough, you can't see anything," said Sheen. "It all goes by feel. You have to feel what you're doing, where you're going, when you get to the vehicle, you have to feel your way around it and through it and reach in."After a few hours of training, the car was removed from the river, to the delight of dozens of waiting onlookers.Rescuers say the driver of this car was lucky. When the car entered the river in June, water was as high as the retaining wall."For the gentleman that night, yes, he was able to actually swim right out of the water rather than have that high bank to climb out of, so it was easier for him," said Sheen.Janesville police said the driver of that vehicle intentionally drove into the river. He was arrested for operating while intoxicated.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportBut on Thursday, the waterlogged car was turned into a training exercise.Janesville Fire and Rock County Sheriff's Rescue Divers rarely have an opportunity to work together, but recovering the submerged vehicle was the perfect opportunity to test each others' skills."You don't want to do this the first time when it happens at 2:00 in the morning. You want to be out here on a day like this, where you can take it easy, take it slowly, learn things, correct your skills," said Lt. Dave Sheen of the Janesville Fire Departments Dive Team.Before recovering the car, divers went through search patterns.The river presents conditions that can't be simulated. The current is faster than it looks."I couldn't do much to fight against it. There was no point in trying a search pattern out there because it's so strong, you won't be able to move at all," said Tim Mauerman, a diver for the Rock County Sheriffs Department. "The rope just pulls tight, and you're not able to do anything."Also, divers can't see more than a foot in front of their masks, WISC-TV reported."Black water diving is very tough, you can't see anything," said Sheen. "It all goes by feel. You have to feel what you're doing, where you're going, when you get to the vehicle, you have to feel your way around it and through it and reach in."After a few hours of training, the car was removed from the river, to the delight of dozens of waiting onlookers.Rescuers say the driver of this car was lucky. When the car entered the river in June, water was as high as the retaining wall."For the gentleman that night, yes, he was able to actually swim right out of the water rather than have that high bank to climb out of, so it was easier for him," said Sheen.Janesville police said the driver of that vehicle intentionally drove into the river. He was arrested for operating while intoxicated.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
