Nine Hall County Fire Services personnel recently completed the public safety diver class.
Lt. Alton Lee, FF Jacob Trites, FF Tyler Bailey, Battalion Chief Christie Grice, FF Quentin Brady, Sgt. Josh Bright, FF Marty Sullivan, FF Hank Tiller and FF Seth Satterfield completed their ERDI 1 and 2 classes at Lake Lanier in Gainesville. FF Nina Morris completed her ERDI tender class.
The class was conducted by ERDI instructor Battalion Chief Kris Boggs and assisted by dive supervisors Michael Sams and Charlie Gorrell. Multiple marine rescue members rotated in and out throughout the week to assist as well.
The class is seven days long and approximately 70 hours total. Personnel were instructed on surface water rescue, diver rescue, search patterns, problem solving, witness interviews and evidence procedures.
Hall County Fire Services operates in rescue mode only and keeps a boat and divers in a fire station ready to respond 24/7. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the boat is manned and patrols Lake Lanier on weekends and holidays. The boat, Marine Rescue 1, responds to dive and medical emergencies throughout the lake.
