Imagine you have a house on an island in the middle of the lake. While you may be safe in the event of a zombie apocalypse if you need medical care or if your property is on fire, you need the New London Fire Department.

Seven boats, all filled with members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA), St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office (SCCSO), Pell City Police Department (PCPD), Lincoln Fire and Rescue and the New London Fire Department conducted training exercises on Logan Martin Lake over the weekend in a multi-agency event. 

“It has been great working with the Coast Guard on drills and general safety on the water,” said Jim Landrum, New London Fire Chief. “It is rewarding to work together with all the different agencies.”

Jim Landrum has been with the all-volunteer firefighters of the New London Fire Department for two years. This was the first year they have participated in an event of this kind.

“This is something that needed to happen,” said USCGA Coxswain Trent Richardson. “It makes sense to bring everyone together to work more efficiently. We each have different skills and resources that we bring.” 

The day began in the classroom with participants going through navigational calculations. After testing, their skills were put to practical use on the water with five unknown locations that had to be found and a specific training exercise completed. To find each location, the crews had to solve complicated navigational problems. 

Each location had a different boating skills challenge to complete, including rescuing a man overboard, docking in a Coxswain Down situation (an alternate captain is placed at the helm), completing a search pattern, and an anchoring drill. The boats also had practice approach with bow, port, and stern.

Saturday, each boat had members of each agency to learn from each other and share skills.

“We wanted to let each department be aware of what the others do,” said Richardson. “The Coast Guard has a successful standardization of tasks and an interchangeable crew. The Sheriff’s Department, Police Department…if the marine police have to arrest someone the Coast Guard can assist with a tow freeing up 5-6 hours of the officer’s time.”

On Sunday, each agency took to their own boats to simulate putting out a fire from the water. The New London Fire Department fire boat siphons water from the lake and can spray water up to 300 feet away to put out fires. Sometimes the water pressure can destablilize the boat, prompting the Coast Guard to practice on assisting by tying to the side to more easily maneuver.

“At the end of the day, it makes the lake community safer,” said Richardson.