Haugen Family, RCFD, Water Rescue Team to Promote Boating Safety

 Rapid City, S.D. - On Saturday July 27, members of the Rapid City Fire Department and the Rapid City/Pennington County Water Rescue Team will join the family and friends of Joshua Haugen at Pactola Reservoir for the annual JRH Campout. Water Rescue Team members and equipment will be on hand at the Pactola North Marina from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm to show visitors the tools and equipment used by the team and to help promote water safety. 

The campout is held annually in memory of Joshua Haugen. Joshua was killed in a jet ski crash on Pactola Reservoir on June 4, 1999. He was 17 years old at the time of his death. Joshua’s family and friends wish to use this event to help raise awareness and communicate the importance of safe boating practices, life jacket use, and understanding the rules and regulations that are associated with boating.

 

Above: Joshua Haugen in a photo provided by his family. 

Event organizers will be selling water safety flags made in Joshua’s memory. All proceeds from the sale of the flags will be donated to the Rapid City/Pennington County Water Rescue Team. 

For questions or comment related to this release, please contact RCFD Public Information Officer Lt. Jim Bussell at 605-394-4180.

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Fire Station 6 Hit by Lightning

Generator, fire alarm system among items affected

Rapid City, S.D. - Firefighters in our area are accustomed to responding to buildings that have been struck by lightning. Early Sunday morning, Firefighters from Rapid City Fire Department Station 6 found that, instead of responding to a building hit by lightning, the lightning came to them. Fire Station 6 was apparently hit by lightning during a thunderstorm sometime between 3:00 and 4:00 am on Sunday July 14. 

The strike damaged the phone system, fire alarm system, back-up generator and the garage door opener for Engine 3-6. The electricity also tripped all of the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets in the station. The building does not appear to have any structural damage. None of the firefighters on-duty and in the station during the strike were injured. 

The Station 6 crew was in the station monitoring the storm and incoming calls for service throughout the city when the strike occurred. They reported a bright flash with simultaneous thunder that shook the building. Issues with the phones, fire alarm system and outlets were noted immediately. The station is situated next to a large communications tower. It is unknown if the station was hit directly or received an indirect strike. 

We hope that this serves as a good reminder of the importance of following simple safety procedures during thunderstorms.

• Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity.
• Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets. 
• Stay away from windows and doors and stay off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.

Remember that no place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area. When you hear thunder, immediately move inside to safe shelter.

The lightning strike and subsequent damage to the station did not affect the ability of Station 6 to respond to emergencies and calls for service. At the time of this release, much of the damage had been repaired.

For questions or comment related to this release, please contact Lt. Jim Bussell, Public Information Officer for the Rapid City Fire Department, at 605-394-4180.

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RCFD Responds to Saturday Potting Soil Fire

Rapid City, S.D. - Last week we shared with you information regarding potting soil fires.You can read more here: https://bit.ly/2LcKtgm

On Saturday, we were dispatched to an apartment building in the Robbinsdale area for a report of a structure fire. When crews arrived, they found smoke coming from a second floor balcony. When crews made their way to the balcony, the found the fire had originated in a 2.2 cubic foot bag of peat moss. This bag was on a south facing deck. The bag had been in the same place for about two weeks. The fire was isolated to the area where it started. The crew provided some education and encouraged the occupant to find an area for their potted plants with less sun exposure.

Southern aspects of homes generally get the most sun exposure and therefore the most heat. Potted plants and potting soils in these areas are most susceptible to catching fire if they do not remain watered. For questions regarding potting soil fires, you may contact the Rapid City Fire Department at 605-394-4180.

POTTING SOIL FIRES POSE RISK

Homeowners encouraged to monitor soil moisture

Rapid City, S.D. - As the weather warms up, the Rapid City Fire Department would like to remind homeowners to routinely check their potted plants for moisture content and to refrain from discarding smoking materials in planters.

Most of the soil found in potted plants, both in homes and outside of homes, is a soil compound that contains little mineral soil and mostly organic compounds such as peat moss. These organic compounds not only contain dead plant materials that produce heat from decomposition, but will also support smoldering combustion. Many times, plant holders filled with potting soil will receive enough water to support furthering heat of decomposition, which is exacerbated if the plant is in direct sunlight. Many times individuals will use outdoor potted plants as a receptacle for discarded smoking materials as they believe the soil is primarily dirt. Due to the ability of potting soil to support smoldering combustion, when conditions are right (hot temps, wind, dry conditions, etc.), the smoldering conditions can turn into a free burning fire. The problem quickly worsens when the pot is made of plastic or wood products and spreads to other surrounding materials.

Above: A photo shared by a Facebook follower that illustrates the potential hazards associated with potting soil. Fortunately, this planter was not on a combustible deck or near combustible material and did not result in a larger fire.

Properly dispose of any smoking materials in approved containers only and know that potting soil is not a good option. Also, consider purchasing outdoor pots made of fire resistant materials.

For questions about potting soil fires, please contact the Rapid City Fire Department at 605-394-4180.

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 RCFD Crews Quickly Stop Sunday Morning Fire

Rapid City, SD – Just before 8:30 am Sunday morning, Rapid City Firefighters from Stations 1, 4 and 7 were dispatched by Pennington County 9-1-1 to a report of a structure fire in the area of East Chicago St. and North Cherry Avenue. When the Station 1 crews arrived on scene they found black smoke coming from multiple garage doors, walk-in doors and roof vents on the building. The building, located at 202 North Cherry Avenue, is occupied by two separate auto maintenance businesses, Uncle Milt’s Alignment Service and Advanced Auto Repair.

Crews believed the fire to be inside of Uncle Milt’s Alignment inside of the garage. Once inside, they encountered heavy smoke and high heat conditions. Because of the size of the building and nature of businesses involved, a second alarm was struck which summoned Truck 3 from Station 3 and additional command staff.

Crews cut a large hole in an overhead garage door to help ventilate the structure and to better gain access. Once inside, firefighters were able to quickly knock down the fire. The fire appears to have been isolated to a vehicle inside the shop and materials nearby. Once the forward progress of the fire was stopped, crews began the meticulous overhaul process to locate and extinguish hot spots and worked to ventilate both businesses.

Fire investigators were on scene and are working with businesses ownership to determine the cause. There were no injuries reported to firefighters or civilians. Firefighters remained on scene until  just after 10:00 am.

Updates to this release are not anticipated at this time. For questions or comment related to this release, please contact Lt. Jim Bussell with the Rapid City Fire Department at 605-394-4180

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RCFD Resources Responding: Battalion 1, Truck 1, Squad 1, Medic 1, Engine 7, Engine 4, Truck 3, RCFD Fire Operations Division Chief, B-Shift Battalion Chief, RCFD Fire and Life Safety Division, RCFD PIO

Other Agencies Responding: Pennington County 9-1-1, Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Fire Administrator, Montana Dakota Utilities, Black Hills Energy

Above: Rapid City Firefighters fork to gain access inside of Uncle Milt's Alignment Shop on North Cherry Avenue after a fire broke out there on Sunday morning. 

**For Immediate Release**

Re: Multiple Agencies Work Together to Perform Water Rescue

From: Lt. Jim Bussell- Rapid City Fire Department

Office: (605)-394-4180

jim.bussell@rcgov.org

Date: 6/20/2019 2:30 pm MDT

Multiple Agencies Work Together to Perform Water Rescue

Rapid City, SD – Just before 11:00 am on Thursday, Pennington County 9-1-1 received a report of a kayaker in distress in Rapid Creek near Braeburn Dog Park. Units from Rapid City Fire Department Stations 1, 3 and 5 responded as well as units from Pennington County Search and Rescue, the Rapid City/Pennington County Water Rescue Team, the Rapid City Police Department and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.

Reports indicate that the kayaker entered the water just upstream. She encountered a strainer that flipped her kayak. A strainer is a barrier in the water that can be naturally occurring or human made. A strainer allows water to pass through but a human body or a vessel –such as a kayak or canoe– will not. Strainers are incredibly dangerous and pose a life threatening risk to the unsuspecting victim. High water flows have resulted in a number of these hazards, many of which are unseen because they are under water. The kayaker was submerged for a short time but was able to surface on her own. She was unable to exit the creek due to fast moving water and fatigue. Bystanders called 9-1-1 and remained on scene to direct rescuers.

A crew from Station 5 arrived within five minutes of dispatch to find a kayaker still in the water with her kayak downstream. Engine 5 immediately sent members of the crew downstream in case the victim were to be swept away as well as establishing an upstream spotter to watch for debris or other kayakers coming down the creek. Establishing this “box” is a key step to a successful rescue. Once Fire Rescue 3 and Water Rescue members from RCFD Station 3 arrived, they were quickly able to enter the water, swim across the stream and assist the individual to the bank and out of the water.

The side of the creek that Water Rescue members and the kayaker had moved to was very steep and inaccessible. Because the kayaker was showing signs of mild hypothermia and was fatigued from struggling against the water, a decision was made to float the victim back across the creek. To accomplish this, crews would establish a rope line across the creek and send an inflatable boat known as a Rapid Deployment Craft (RDC) to the other side. Once the craft and an additional rescuer were at the victim, she was fitted with a personal flotation device (PFD) for the trip back across the creek. At 12:09 pm, just over an hour after entering the water, the kayaker was safe and reunited with her loved ones.

The individual was evaluated by RCFD Emergency Medical Services. She refused treatment and transport.  

Stream flows in the Braeburn Park area were recorded at about 650 cubic feet per second during the rescue. The water averaged between four and six feet in depth.

A successful outcome to this incident is a direct result of many, many hours of training and dedication by members of multiple agencies. Water rescues are high risk, low frequency events that require interagency cooperation.

This incident should highlight the dangers associated with fast moving water. Even experienced kayakers and boaters can easily find themselves in danger. The RCFD encourages the use of personal flotation devices (PFDs) by all that choose to spend time on the water.

For questions or comment related to this release, please contact Lt. Jim Bussell with the Rapid City Fire Department at the information provided above.

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RCFD Resources Responding: Engine 5, Medic 5, Fire Rescue 3, Water Rescue 1, Battalion 1, RCFD PIO, RCFD Training Specialist

Other Agencies Responding: Pennington County 9-1-1, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Pennington County Search and Rescue

**For Immediate Release**

Re: RCFD Public Service Announcement- Rapid Creek Safety

From: Lt. Jim Bussell- Rapid City Fire Department

Office: (605)-394-4180

jim.bussell@rcgov.org

Date: 05/21/2019 12:30 pm MDT

RCFD Stresses Caution Near Rapid Creek, Moving Water

Danger will persist even after rain stops

Rapid City, S.D. – Plentiful moisture coupled with saturated ground have increased Rapid Creek flows to over 450 cubic feet per second at Founders Park as of 11:00 am today. Rapid Creek has been observed to be running bank full in most areas in and around Rapid City as of this morning. The rapidly moving water and wet, slippery and potentially unstable banks pose risk to anyone near the creek edge. The Rapid City Fire Department is asking the community to exercise extreme caution around Rapid Creek and any moving body of water in the area, for the foreseeable future.

Six inches of moving water is enough to sweep a person off of their feet while only one foot of moving water will float many vehicles. At present, most areas of Rapid Creek are at least 4 feet deep and running over 300 cubic feet per second. In Rapid Creek, much of the danger is related to trees, debris and unseen hazards located under the water. These hazards are known as “strainers”. Strainers are items that water can flow through, but that a swimmer or boat (canoe, kayak, etc.) cannot. These obstacles have the potential to catch an unsuspecting victim. Entrapment in a strainer is a life-threatening emergency.

Because of wet, slippery and potentially unstable stream, creek and river banks, it is strongly encouraged that individuals avoid activity around moving water until water levels subside and stream flows moderate. If you choose to be around these bodies of water, remember the following items:

-Know your limitations. If you do not have experience in the swift-water environment, it is best to stay away.

-If swept away in high flow water, DO NOT put your feet down. Foot entrapment's are a real possibility. Keep your feet up and point them downstream in the direction of the nearest shoreline or in the direction of safety and attempt to self-rescue. Always go over obstacles. Do not try to go under them.

-Use flotation. A life jacket may save your life.

-Watch out for children, water is a natural attractant. Keep them very close to you when near flooded or high-water areas. Teach them about the dangers of moving water and remind them to stay away.

-Don’t drive thru flooded roadways. Turn around, don’t drown. Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water.

For questions or comment related to this release, please contact Lt. Jim Bussell, Public Information Officer for the Rapid City Fire Department, at the information provided above.

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