Water related incident at Chambers Lake
 
By Waogntown Fire Company
September 15, 2016
 

On Thursday at 11:36 the company along with Ambulance 144 and Medic 93 were dispatched to Chambers Lake for a boat overturned. On arrival we were advised a subject in a boat had capsized and was under the water.

Upon arrival Chief Ziegler met with Park Staff of Hibernia and launched the park boat with the initial crew on Utility and Boat 35 since their boat was in the water already. Crews made their way to the last known location and began to search for the victim. As other members and equipment arrived, Boat 35 was launched with our underwater camera and it too joined in the search. As this was occurring Command requested the Dive team from the Friendship Fire Company in Phoenixville.

As the incident was evolving additional boat resources were requested from the Lionville Fire Company and the Downingtown Fire Department. Adding these additional boats provided the ability to search the water and surrounding areas. The County Park Staff also during this time assembled and began a ground search of the area the subject was last seen in hopes of locating the subject.

The West Caln Police were onscene and assisted with searching and organizing the incident as the Fish and Boat Commission arrived.
A unified command was established with Chester County Parks and Engineering, Fish and Boat, Dive team, West Caln PD and those who had a stake in the incident.

Additional water rescue resources arrived and crews continued the search while the divers from Friendship made numerous dives in attempts to locate the missing person. Search dogs were brought in and one scanned the lake by boat marking several spots in which diver’s dove looking for the subject. Also during this the land dog was brought in and searched the shoreline and woods as well as Jeffstat helicopter that was searching from the air.

As darkness fell the search was suspended and one last walk through the low water was made by rescue personnel along with search dogs from Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Dogs.

A plan was made to come back and use a sonar device from Telford Dive team, meanwhile the Park Staff, K9 search dogs and various members of the public and Fire Department continued to keep a watch on the lake for the missing subject.


Earlier today on the 17th the subject came to the surface and units responded and brought the subject in. Wagontown extends our condolences to the family and would like to thank all of those who assisted us in this search.

 
Units: Station 35 and Ambulance 144
 
Mutual Aid: Dive Rescue 77, Lionville Fire, Downingtown Fire, Fish & Boat, Chester County Parks, Chester County DES, West Caln PD., Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Dogs, Jeffstat 3 helicopter, Medic 93, Sadsburyville Fire and Whitehorse Fire Companies.