April 4th 1998 - Water Rescue at Lake Somerset

Saturday April 4th...at 14:05 hours we were dispatched to Lake Somerset for a possible drowning, two subjects in the water.  Rescue #1 (14-51) went enroute at 14-05 with the rescue boat (14-25), along with Truck #2 (14-72).  This was the first call for the new Rescue I Connector Boat.  14-25 was on the water at 14-09 hours and command was established with Chief  Williams (14-01) being Lake Somerset command.  As 14-25 approached the area in which the possible drownings took place, a canoe filled with water was found, along with a cap belonging to one of the young men.  There was no visible sightings of the subjects when the first unit arrived on the scene.  At 14-13 hours the divers from the Hillsdale County Sheriff Department dive team was called after confirmation of the two men in the water.  The Survival Flight helicopter from University of Michigan Hospital was called at 14:14 hours to help with the surveillance from the air.  Lake Somerset command requested an additional boat from the Addison Fire Department at 14:20 hours and they in turn requested a hovercraft from the Cambridge Fire Department at 14-31hours to assist.  Survival Flight was at the scene at approximately 14:50, and the first diver from the dive team was on the scene at 14:53 hours.  Sweeps of the area was conducted with 14-25, the hovercraft and boast belonging to concerned citizens.  Reading Emergency Unit provided two ALS ambulances and the Lenawee County Sheriff Department provided divers and officers to assist.   The residents home in front of where the accident happened, opened their house for a command post and other facilities.  Concerned citizens then brought out food and hot drinks for the rescuers and dive team.  The search efforts continued until darkness started to set in.  The search was called after 4.5 hours and would resume the next morning. 

At 07:00 hours on Sunday April 5th,1998 14-25 was at the lake to meet a state police canine unit.  The canine was used to help the men from the water surface and give an indication where the divers should look.  At approximately 09:00 hours, divers from the Hillsdale,Lenawee and Branch county dive teams were ready to resume their search.   The first of the young men was found at approximately 10:30 hours and taken to shore.  A concentrated effort was then done to find the last man.  At approximately 13:00 hours the last young man was found and was transported to shore.   All Somerset Fire and Rescue units finally cleared the scene at 14:30 hours.   There was 13 hours spent on these two days.

    The Somerset Township Fire Department and Rescue would like to thank the following agencies and citizens for their assistance.

    READING EMERGENCY UNIT AMBULANCE

    HILLSDALE SHERIFF STAN BURCHARDT

    HILLSDALE COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT AND DIVE TEAM

    UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HOSPITAL SURVIVAL FLIGHT

    LENAWEE COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT AND DIVE TEAM

    ADDISON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AMBULANCE

    CAMBRIDGE TWP. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND RESCUE

    BRANCH COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT DIVE TEAM

    ALL THE CITIZENS OF LAKE SOMERSET WHO GAVE OF THEIR HOMES,BOATS AND FOOD TO ASSIST    THE RESCUERS AND DIVERS.