Fire officials conduct water rescue training for new recruits

The Columbia Fire Department and the Jefferson City Fire Department held water rescue training Wednesday for new recruits in both departments.

In addition to the Columbia and Jefferson City fire departments, recruits with the Marshall Fire Department were among the 10 recruits and six instructors present at Wednesday’s water rescue training.

Four recruits from Columbia Fire, two recruits from Jefferson City Fire and four from Marshall Fire took turns in and out of the river.

David Yadrich from Marshall Fire tells ABC 17 News that Wednesday’s training consisted of being able to get mock victims in a boat in moving water and he was glad he’s getting all the training he can.

“Today it’s cool getting out on the Missouri River. It shows how you maneuver a boat and save people throughout the water, so it’s really good to learn,” Yadrich said.

Officials with Columbia Fire said the water rescue training conducted in the Missouri River covered putting on personal gear, throwing ropes to victims needing assistance, how to safely operate and maneuver boats in moving water, how to move a rescue victim into a boat from the water and how to be able to swim ashore by swimming effectively.

Assistant Columbia Fire Chief Jerry Jenkins said if people find themselves near the river, knowing how to swim plays a big role.

“Knowing how to swim, that is the basic start right there is having a good swimming background and if you can’t swim, (wear) life jackets,” Jenkins said.

This year, there have been zero deaths on the Missouri River, according to online reports from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, but in 2017, stats show there was one reported death in August.

From 2011 to 2016, there were a total of four boating fatalities and 13 drownings on the Missouri River.

Officials said they will also train this winter.

The training was held at Wilson’s Serenity Point at Carl R. Noren Missouri River Park from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.