Texas fire dept. to re-establish Underwater Recovery Team

By Greg Kendall-Ball
Abilene Reporter-News

ABILENE, Texas — The Abilene Fire Department is taking steps to rebuild its Underwater Recovery Team, a group of specially trained and equipped emergency responders who can assist in the recovery of bodies from local lakes and rivers.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Fire Department responded to requests for dive assistance with firefighters who used their own personal scuba equipment, and who pursued their own training and certification as divers, said Lt. Greg Goettsch, AFD spokesman.

But several years ago, Goettsch said, the National Fire Protection Association — an organization that helps establish consensus standards for firefighters — adopted guidelines that prohibited department divers from using their own gear.

"The Fire Department administration sees this as an important capability and has been steadily working to secure enough equipment to re-establish (the underwater team)," Goettsch said.

The need for a recovery team is highlighted by the recent drowning of a Dyess airman at Lake Fort Phantom Hill.

Miguel Angel Villasenor's body was recovered without the assistance of divers, but, Goettsch said, anytime someone goes swimming at the lake, they do so at their own risk.

"There are no lifeguards out there, and we recommend, along with Texas Parks and Wildlife, that everyone use a life jacket while out on the water," Goettsch said.

"Drownings happen so quickly we're often responding after the fact. It's rare that we are able to effect a rescue; often it's a recovery effort."

Goettsch said that over the next few months, Deputy Chief Jim Frazier would meet with former dive team captain Lt. Don Estes to discuss where the department stands in terms of equipment and training, and where it needs to go.

One reason the fire protection association prohibits the use of personal diving gear, Goettsch said, is that most recovery operations involve some sort of water contamination.

"If a car goes into a lake, there's going to be oil and gasoline. If a big truck goes in the water, it could be carrying who knows what," Goettsch said.

"Most personal gear is for recreational use and not equipped for dealing with that sort of contamination."

Most departments require a fully sealed dry suit for water recovery operations, he said.

They also require a certain number of divers, so an appropriate number of backup divers are available in case the primary divers run into trouble.

Some of the equipment is being acquired piece by piece through normal budget channels, Goettsch said, and the department may apply for grants for other required pieces.

He said it also was unclear at this point whether the training and certification for recovery divers would be paid for through city funds, or by the divers themselves.

Copyright 2012 The E.W. Scripps Company