Porter Fire Dive Team

With the upbringing of our Dive Rescue Department within the past two years, it has been a race against time.  Firefighters suit up in their dive equipment and are taken out into waters where search and rescue attempts need to be performed.  Divers grope their way through dark waters and harsh marine conditions to find unconscious victims with the goal of returning these persons to their families. 

Our Dive Team is responsible for approximately eight (8) miles of Lake Michigan beach front, including Indiana Dunes State Park.  We are also responsible for many inland lakes and rivers and respond throughout entire Porter County for water emergencies and will respond to other counties if requested and available.  Within this past summer, we had a rescue/recovery at Porter Beach.  We have also responded to Calumet City, Illinois and to Lake and Laporte Counties in Indiana – specifically Michigan City to assist local Law Enforcement, for water search activities.  During our Water Safety Day we conducted at Indiana State Park at the end of July this year, we responded to a drowning at Mount Baldy per the request of the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division. 

Divers on the PFD Dive Team are: Asst. Chief Jay Craig** Lieutenant Steven Davis** Firefighter Jenny Kelly Firefighter Mike Nordstrom Firefighter Anthony Tharp Firefighter Joel Eastlund           **Denotes Team Leader

 

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