Marine and Water Rescue Unit
The PCFD 13 Marine and Water Rescue Unit provides water rescue in Commencement Bay and other water bodies in Pierce County. The unit stands ready to mobilize to any water emergency in Pierce County. The unit assists Tacoma Fire and Police with water safety patrols for the Tall Ships Event and the annual 4th of July Freedom Fair in Commencement Bay.
The Unit uses Jet Skis and Kayaks for water rescue.
June 10, 2010, the District co-hosted the 3rd annual Puget Sound Regional Water Rescue Full Scale Exercise held in the waters of Puget Sound off of Browns Point. See attached flyer.
This exercise series, designed to last approximately six hours, includes actual demonstrations of rescue swimmers hoisting victims into a helicopter. Responders have the opportunity to practice their skills using personal water craft and boats in rescues, as well as practice response to a vessel fire simulation. A subsurface dive rescue team is also included in the response. Marine units train using different vessels simultaneously during the water rescues.
Participating agencies include Browns Point/Dash Point Fire Department, Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, East Pierce Fire & Rescue, Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One, Gig Harbor Police Department, Graham Fire & Rescue, Key Peninsula Fire Department, Lakewood Fire Communications, Lakewood Fire Department, McNeil Island Fire and Rescue, Pierce County Emergency Management, Pierce County Regional Air Support, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, South King Fire & Rescue, Tacoma Fire Department, Tacoma Police Department, United States Army – Joint Base Lewis-McChord, United States Coast Guard, and the Washington State Department of Corrections.
