It was a potentially lifesaving training event Tuesday evening at the La Follette Country Club Pool. Local firefighters came together to “get wet for safety.”

Tristan Nelson is wearing the red helmet

  The Campbell County Rural Fire Service covers seven marinas here in Campbell County, and given that, the CCRFS responds to marina fires as well as boat fires. After many years of research, the department developed a plan in the event a firefighter(s) fell in the water so the firefighter could stay afloat once his 40-plus pounds of gear (when dry) became saturated with water.

 

After receiving a grant, the department was able to purchase 20 waist belt inflatable life vests. Last night CCRFS crews along with members from La Follette Fire Department conducted training with the new devices ahead of them being placed into service.

It was also noted that there are many homes in the departments’ service areas that have pools where those same risks and hazards could come into play.

Michael Brown swims to the ladder after his plunge

 

Nick Nelson resurfaces as Robert Dial looks on

Daniel Lawson with the CCRFS said, “It was a great training and could possibly save one of our firefighters lives. We send out a big thank you to La Follette Country Club for allowing us to use the pool for our training session.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/25/2018-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF LFD ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF JIMMY PACK AND DANIEL LAWSON OF THE CCRFS)

Chris Huguenard takes the big plunge