CLAREMORE, Okla. — Firefighters received a life-saving donation -- water-rescue equipment. The supplies are a sad reminder of the captain they lost to drowning five years ago during a flash flood.
They call water rescues low-frequency, high-risk situations. They do not happen often, but when they do, they need to be prepared to help others while protecting themselves.
Captain Jason Farley drowned almost five years ago during a water rescue. He was swept into a storm pipe.
Ty Burnett, President of Claremore Firefighters Local 1077, was off-duty when it happened, May 23, 2015.
“He had three radios that failed on him, that night, due to exposure to the water."
Now, the department moves forward with new tools, hoping that kind of tragedy never happens again.
Elks Lodge 1230 presented them with 15 radio enclosures, five personal flotation devices, and five throw bags.
Burnett says, before the donation, they had been pushing the city for new equipment.
When 2 Works for You asked them of any plans to strengthen the first responder radio system, it was sent this statement:
There have been no official complaints filed on radios regarding availability or properly functioning devices. Portable radios are safe and meet applicable standards. Radios are regularly inspected by firefighters to ensure they are working properly. Replacements are available for any equipment that needs to be replaced or repaired. The NFPA guidelines require only one radio unit per crew. The Claremore Fire Department exceeds guidelines by providing both portable and mobile radios on each fire truck, as well as making individual radios available for each person on duty. Per stated policy, it is the responsibility of firefighters to retrieve their radio and report issues if the device isn’t properly functioning. Spare radios and additional batteries are on-hand for replacements.
