News

Conn. Ambulance Corps to Revive Dive Team

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich, Register Correspondent

03/01/2012

DERBY -- The Fire Department's recently disbanded dive team soon will be resurrected by Storm Ambulance and Rescue Corps.

Last month, fire Commissioner Kelly Curtis told the Board of Aldermen that because of dwindling interest among firefighters and a lack of training and certification, he felt it was in the best interest of the department to disband the team.

Curtis also cited concerns over liability related to having a dive team without properly trained members. He assured city officials that disbanding the team would not leave Derby high and dry in the event of a water rescue or recovery. There are several dive teams in the area, and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has one.

But during last week's aldermanic meeting, Storm Ambulance Chief David Lenart sought permission to have the Fire Department's dive team equipment donated to his organization.

The aldermen unanimously approved the transfer.

The equipment includes about $15,000 worth of scuba suits, tanks and related gear that Derby received through a grant from the Katharine Matthies Foundation.

Curtis had said he wanted the equipment to stay local. "It's Derby equipment and it should stay in Derby," Curtis said.

Lenart said he has several members who are eager to put in the time, training and expense necessary to get certification for the dive team.

"We currently have three boats and we do respond to all water emergencies," Lenart said. "We have 10 certified divers and plan to train five more members, who are eager to get started."

Curtis said one reason for disbanding the team in the Fire Department was that members were finding it difficult to juggle their regular fire training with dive team certifications.

"We had about four guys (from the Fire Department) interested, but my liability concerns came from a lack of training, and has nothing to do with Storm's (taking it over," Curtis said. "I'm not knocking it, and I have the utmost faith that these (Storm) guys will do the training."

Lenart said the members interested in becoming part of the dive team must pay for their training, which shows their dedication, he said.

Curtis had said he decided to disband the team after a Woodbridge man's body was found several days after his boat capsized on the Housatonic River in December.

Several area dive teams, including from Newtown and the state police, combed the river day and night to try to find the victim.

Curtis said the city was amply covered by other agencies during that incident.

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