Water and Dive Rescue

Lake Oswego Fire Department has been a leader in Dive Rescue for many decades. Starting in the early 1970’s the Dive team consists of twelve certified divers trained as Water Rescue specialists. The Dive Team responds from the main fire station with a dedicated Dive Rescue vehicle fully equipped with modern equipment to facilitate a water emergency as well as ice rescues. The Dive team maintains their certification through extensive training throughout the year including under water communications, navigation, search patterns, evidence recovery, lift capabilities, self rescue and annual swim test and annual under water testing.

Lake Oswego Fire Department Boat Team is equipped for surface and swift water rescue and boat based search and rescue operations.  Responding from the South Shore Fire Station, they are equipped with a pump powered 20’ metal sled watercraft capable of navigating large bodies of water to shallow rivers. The boat team also can deploy a Rapid Deployment Craft (rubber raft) for ice rescue, mud rescue and swift water operations. Not only can they deploy during daylight hours but have full night vision capabilities.  The boat team consists of six certified Rescue Boat Operators as well as six certified Boat Operators. As with the Dive Team, the Boat Team maintains their certification through extensive training throughout the year and tested annually.

Lake Oswego Boat and Dive Teams are members of the Clackamas County Water Consortium which is a regional water rescue team. The team is made up of Boat and Dive teams from Clackamas County Sheriff’s Marine, Clackamas County Fire District 1, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, Estacada Fire and Rescue, Sandy Fire Department, Gladstone Fire and Rescue, Canby Fire department and American Medical Response. The Consortium responds together to all water emergencies in Clackamas County and train together as a regional team weekly.