Osborne and his team responded to a call of a boat fire in the summer of 2020 that the Louisville Fire Department needed help with extinguishing . Because of all kinds of factors , he said it was a challenge , but it ended as well as it could have .
“ It was a windy day with current , and you ’ re trying to hit a floating object that ’ s drifting ,” Osborne recalled . “ Other than that , it was a smooth run . Our training kicked in and we all worked well together with Louisville . The boat burned up , but nobody got hurt and everyone worked well together .”
Ogden said he ’ s had his fair share of challenging calls , too , but thankfully , nothing that was completely tragic . He said boats running out of fuel or otherwise losing power are the most common call . He said that ’ s especially dangerous when the boat is near the dam .
Ogden recalled when JFD Water
Rescue got a call during the Ohio River Bridges Project , when a group of workers had their boat go into the lower pool of the dam . He said that ’ s especially dangerous , but their training worked out for them that day .
“ That ’ s generally not the case for someone going over the dam ,” Ogden said . “ The toughest part of the job for me is the unknown . Sometimes , we don ’ t truly know what we ’ re being asked to do . Sometimes you get a report of someone in the water and depending on the conditions , it ’ s hard to see them .”
BEFORE THEY ’ RE NEEDED Ogden said he loves his job , and Osborne said water rescue is one of his favorite parts of being a firefighter .
Osborne noted , though , there are some simple tips everyone can keep in mind to prevent the need for a water rescue call .
If you ’ re on the river , he said make sure your boat ’ s in good shape before you launch it .
“ Get your boat serviced every year , make sure your safety equipment is up to date ,” Osborne said . “ All your lighting , make sure it ’ s all up to date … There are guys out here who are trained to work on boats and that ’ s who I ’ d trust . That way , you can get out on the water and have a relaxing day where you don ’ t have to see us .”
He said when it comes to flash flooding , it ’ s pretty simple — if you ’ re not sure about water depth , don ’ t chance it .
“ Turn around , don ’ t drown ,” Osborne said . “ If water ’ s on the roadway and you don ’ t think you can get through , turn around . I can assure you there ’ s more than one way home . It may not be the common way you go , but it might be the safe way that day .”
Jeffersonville Fire Department / 150 years 23