How many river rescues did the Decorah Fire Department do this summer? And what new equipment are they asking for because of those rescues?

It was a busy summer on the Upper Iowa River for the Decorah Fire Department and other emergency workers.  Decorah Fire Chief Mike Ashbacher says his department had nine river rescues.  "There wasn't any one of the rescues that was the same," he says.  Ashbacher says the fire department's drone "has had a huge impact" on river rescues, enabling emergency workers to more quickly find people who are stranded along the river.

But once the stranded people are found, they also need to be rescued—and Ashbacher says his department has realized the shortcomings of some of its equipment.  For instance, a raft the department uses during some river rescues is small and only can be used with a 4-horsepower engine.  Ashbacher would like to buy a Zodiac military specification inflatable raft with a $10,000 price tag.

Another pressing concern is that the department's current 14-foot boat "doesn't work well in shallow water," according to Ashbacher.  A new jet drive boat recommended by some Iowa DNR employees Ashbacher has spoken to does a much better job—but comes with a $30,000 price tag.

Ashbacher has presented his list of equipment requests to City of Decorah officials.  The Decorah City Council will begin work on its 2020-2021 budget in January.