(Arnolds Park)—Some lakes area firefighters were ready to do their part to assist flood victims in the Cedar Rapids area.
The Lakes Area Fire and Rescue boat, along with several firefighters from the Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire Department, were deployed to Cedar Rapids over the weekend.
Fire Chief Chris Youngbluth says his department received a request from Cedar Rapids officials Friday evening. He says they were requesting the boat in the event of a fire in the hundred’s of blocks of Cedar Rapids that were under water.
After arranging back-up resources for the Iowa Great Lakes and getting the necessary paperwork filled out, the Lakes Area Fire and Rescue boat was loaded on its trailer. It arrived in Cedar Rapids around 4:15 p.m. Saturday and was assigned to Cedar Rapids Fire Station. Arnolds Park-Okoboji firefighters Dave Nelson, Jason Kirschbaum and Mark Peterson were assigned to the boat, along with a Cedar Rapids firefighter.
The boat was originally scheduled to be there three to four days, but after taking measurements and determining water levels were dropping much faster than first expected, authorities determined the boat was no longer needed.
It was put back on the trailer and departed back to the Iowa Great Lakes around 2:00 p.m. yesterday (Sunday). The boat was back in its hoist around 7:30 p.m. last (Sun.) evening.
Youngbluth says he’s glad his department had an opportunity to assist after all the assistance they received in a drowning case a few years ago.
And as with everyone else, Youngbluth says the Arnolds Park-Okoboji firefighters extend their thoughts and prayers to those affected by the flooding in eastern Iowa.
