Frigid water, frozen lakes, and thin ice are fading from the thoughts of many as spring thawing spreads, but the Hauser Lake Fire Department, which just acquired a Rescue Alive Sled, is giddy with glee over their latest addition, a tool which completes their arsenal of water and ice rescue equipment.

Hauser Lake Fire Station Captain Gary Mobbs, discovered the sled for sale at $1,800. The purchase was made possible through a $1,500 donation from the Hauser Lions Club together with $300 from the Hauser Lake Fire Auxiliary.

The rescue sled features grooved pontoons and a spike, enabling it to be used in both open water and on ice.

Fire Chief Larry Simms and Mobbs presented an appreciation plaque to Lions Club President Duane Justus last week at the fire station.

The sled was purchased in time to be tested while Hauser Lake was still partially frozen. The department had it on the ice the day after they got it.

Nearly half the department has already received training.

Mobbs emphasized that the Hauser Lake Fire Dept. and the area residents it serves are fortunate to have a broad variety of water rescue equipment available including a fire boat plus three ice rescue strategies: the Rescue Alive Sled, a boogie board, and a rope with a carabiner, a piece of equipment that snaps around a rescue line.

He added that the sled, relatively light weight and collapses in half for space-saving storage, can easily be put in the back of an ambulance.

Lt. Dan Sumas, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Dept., who’s conducted safety training and sold safety equipment offered the demo sled at a bargain. Once he learned of the possibility, Mobbs approached the Hauser Lions Club.

Another sled is owned by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Dive Rescue Team, a 12-member multi-agency group comprised of sheriffs, city police officers, tribal police and one firefighter, Gary Mobbs. Mobbs is the first firefighter to be included on the team on which he’s served for about a year. When working with the dive team, Mobbs operates under the authority of the Sheriff’s Dept.

However, Mobbs, a 26-year veteran of the Hauser Lake Fire Department, also teaches ice rescue to firefighters. He is one of two persons in the state of Idaho certified to teach ice rescue.

The third Rescue Alive Sled in the county is owned by Northern Lakes Fire Department, which includes Rathdrum.

Note: The Rathdrum Star is an independent, locally owned newspaper published each Wednesday by Panhandle Publishing Co., Inc. with advertising an editorial offices located at 8068 W. Main ST., Rathdrum, ID., 83858. The Star offers mailed subscriptions to Postal Zip Codes outside of 83858 and 83869 at $24 per year. Additionally, it will be mailed to every household in Hauser Lake, beginning the week of September 12, 2005, according to their note in Volume 1, Issue 49 dated September 14, 2005. Thanks to publisher Tom Burnett for sharing Hauser news!

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