Plover Fire to conduct victim recovery training on June 3

By Brandi Makuski

PLOVER — The Plover Fire Department spent the evening of May 20 at Lake Pacawa practicing life-saving water rescue techniques and training with a newly installed sonar system.

Deputy Fire Chief Trevor Howard said the exercise focused on open-water rescue operations and helping firefighters become more familiar with equipment the department has added in recent years.

“We’re out here practicing our water rescue capabilities, making sure everybody’s prepared,” Howard said during the training session.

Howard said the department used the controlled setting at Lake Pacawa to help firefighters build confidence using rescue gear and operating in open water conditions.

The training included testing a new sonar system installed on the department’s rescue boat with support from the Plover Firefighters Auxiliary.

Dive Point Scuba owner Bob Butt volunteered to serve as a simulated victim while crews practiced locating him underwater using the sonar equipment.

“We’re just working on seeing what that looks like on the sonar,” Howard said. “So we have a real person down there that we can differentiate what a body essentially looks like from other objects in the water.”

Howard said the training also gave newer firefighters an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the department’s rescue equipment and procedures.

While the May 20 training focused on familiarizing firefighters with the new sonar system, the department plans to conduct a victim-recovery scenario drill at Lake Pacawa on June 3.

Visitors to the Lake Pacawa park area during the exercise are asked to watch for yellow caution tape and remember the activity is only a training drill.