CCFD gets new rescue vehicle

CRESCO - “If we ever needed a boat for a river rescue, we would call Decorah. I knew there would be a time when Decorah would be out on their own call. We needed a boat,” said Cresco Community Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Chuck Reicks.

And they got it!

Reicks, along with other committee members, researched rescue boats. “We spent a couple hours with Decorah Fire Department. They were tickled with how [all their equipment] worked. We copied what they had. We learned off their experience,” he said. “Now when we work together, each department will know how the other’s equipment works.”

The new inflatable boat can fit into a small pack when not in use. The Asst. Chief explained it has a lot of functions and can be towed behind a UTV or snowmobile for ice fishing.

Cresco usually gets two calls a year for a river rescue and has had other times when they could have used a boat but used other means for rescue. 

It seems as though there are more river rescues this year than others. Reicks said it is true. “It’s not just canoes tipping over. There was one broken leg while canoeing. Also more people are getting into water sports such as canoeing and kayaking, and they are inexperienced. There is more traffic on the river. This year, the river is up, and there are more trees in the water.”

CCFD had a training at Vernon Springs on July 31 with firefighters learning rescue techniques. Reicks said of one of his fellow volunteer firefighters, “I have to hand it to him. He wanted to train even though his dad died from drowning after his canoe tipped and got caught up in trees.”

The rescue boat was purchased with donated funds to Cresco Firefighters. The department has three major fund-raising events every year, the St. Patrick’s Day Brew ’n Stew, the June golf tournament and the upcoming election day pancake supper.

Last year, SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses) were purchased with donated funds.

The department is storing the rescue boat in part of the new storage facility, located just north of the fire station. It is very near completion. Donations also made that possible.

Fire Chief Neal Stapelkamp is pleased with the department’s newest life-saving acquisition. He  said, “The guys wanted to pursue this as an added service. It enhances what we provide at Cresco Community Fire Department.”