With training and equipment acquisition underway, the Warren County Technical Rescue Team is preparing for the busy summer months when water enthusiasts will take to the area’s rivers for recreation.

So far, 40 people from the county’s nine volunteer fire departments have become members of the rescue team that was created after a Warren County Fiscal Court vote in February.

All have taken a swift water awareness class. Some have advanced on to a basic search and rescue class, and the first swift water operations class is coming up later this month, said Brian Geringswald, deputy director of Warren County Emergency Management. Currently three members of the Gott Volunteer Fire Department are trained as swift water technicians.

“We’re going to utilize them until we can get (others) trained,” Geringswald said.

The team has three boats and a variety of gear.

“We’re purchasing rope gear, helmets and other technical rescue equipment,” he said.

Rescue team board chairman Craig Peay said the team is placing its primary focus on training and recruitment of qualified team members.

“We’ve got to have the people and the training before we focus on the equipment,” Peay said.

“We’re doing great,” Peay said. “We’re taking small steps, which is a good thing because we are getting people trained so that they can make a proper response without getting themselves injured. We believe getting this training up front to take the most basic steps first is the best advantage for us.” 

The team is studying the areas that have received high call volumes for people needing help on the water and are preparing to meet the needs of both swift water rescue and basic search and rescue in those areas while also prepping for searching for lost children and the elderly, he said.

“It’s not a process that’s going to happen overnight,” Geringswald said.

Team Chief Jason Duckett said they are working with the team’s board of directors to determine what type of equipment is needed at each fire hall to meet the call demands.

“Our goal is to have these boats in the fire stations closest to the water,” Duckett said. “When the fire departments get a call, they don’t have to wait to get a boat. The sooner you can get it put in the water, the better chance of rescuing somebody. We are looking at each one, talking with each fire chief and making the determination of what goes where. We’ve got a great board of directors composed of different areas of knowledge. The board has been contributing to the success of the team and making sure the team grows.

“With a new team there’s hurdles, but we’ve overcome all of them so far. People are really wanting to help with this team and be a part of this team,” he said.

— Follow Assistant City Editor Deborah Highland on Twitter @BGDNCrimebeat or visit bgdailynews.com.