Firefighter Adrian Jewett expertly aims Boat 59 downstream and pushes the throttles forward. The twin 175 horsepower sport jet engines roar to life and in seconds the boat is on plane and hurtling down the river toward Willamette Falls. Captain John Voeller sits beside him. Voeller, Jewett, and the other two firefighters aboard are headed out for water rescue training.
TVF&R's Water Rescue Team is based at the District's new Willamette Station 59, located just a few minutes from the Willamette Park boat ramp
TVF&R is part of the Clackamas County Water Rescue Consortium. The group, comprised of agencies in Clackamas County who have water rescue capabilities, maintains a high level of training and expertise in water rescue. Members of this team are: Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Clackamas County Fire District No. 1, Clackamas County Sherriff’s Office Marine Patrol, Estacada Fire District, Sandy Fire District, Gladstone Fire Department, Lake Oswego Fire Department and Canby Fire District. When there is a report of a water rescue in the County, all agencies are notified members will respond together.
TVF&R’s Water Rescue Team is housed in the new Fire Station 59 in West Linn. The new station allows firefighters to keep the tow vehicle and boat trailer connected. Before the new station was built, firefighters had to disconnect the tow vehicle and trailer in order to park it. When an emegency call came in, they had to reconnect the trailer in vehicle, which cost the team time.
Firefighters from TVF&R’s team practice water rescue training every week. It’s not easy to become part of the team. There are weeks worth of rigorous classes and testing including swiftwater rescue training and drills handling the specially made boat in turbulent water.
On this training day, the team is assessing hazards at Willamette Falls. It’s August, the river is low, and firefighters are able to get a good look at the rocks and concrete buttresses that make up the falls. “You’d be surprised by how many people get into trouble above the falls,” says Captain Voeller, “training like this gives us a chance to look for potential hazards and rescue points.”
Firefighter Alejo Ureguizar and Captain John Voeller assess risks and look for rescue points at Willamette Falls.
On this day, the Willamette River churns through a narrow slot between concrete barriers and inflatable bladders that funnel the mighty river into a torrent. Standing atop the falls, you can feel the ground vibrate as millions of gallons of water thunder to the bottom of the falls. This is not the kind of place you want the engine on your boat to fail, but if it does, TVF&R’s Water Rescue Team is ready to respond.
“We realize that we provide an important service,” Captain Voeller says, “and we practice often so that when you dial 9-1-1, we can get to you quickly and get you back to dry ground.”
