LOUDONVILLE — When Central Ohio’s rivers proved too tame for swiftwater rescue training, Black Fork of the Mohican rose to the occasion.
While water levels dropped around Columbus and Delaware, early April’s heavy rains on the upper Mohican Watershed created perfect conditions for training in swiftwater rescue techniques.
So Logan Adams, an instructor with Bowling Green State University’s State Fire School, contacted Nathan Shipley and arranged to conduct on-water training at his canoe livery on West Main Street in Loudonville.
When the first of two classes arrived April 17 for a day of training, they found a muddy, turbulent Black Fork overflowing its banks. Debris — including large chunks of trees — swept through the narrow channel in front of Shipley’s Canoe Livery. Water temperatures this time of year are generally in the mid to upper 40s.
The current surged around tree trunks and snags along the bank, created a perfect setting for swiftwater training — which included boat, swimming and rope maneuvers.
Needless to say, drysuits were in order. As were life vests and helmets.
Below are photos taken by Irv Oslin. The story continues below.
Adams came to town April 15 to scout stream conditions and look for river access suitable for staging training exercises.
“The water levels in rivers are ever-changing,” she later said in an email. “This can create challenges when holding a swiftwater operations course. If water levels are too low, the conditions are not realistic.
“The instructors for the class are always chasing water to find the best locations to give the students a good training environment to prepare them for emergencies. Black Fork had significant flooding, which made the conditions ideal.”
While Adams was in town scouting the river, the Loudonville Fire Department recommended the livery as a training location. Shipley happened to be there with his father, cleaning up storm debris.
“I’m just happy I was here when Logan stopped by and asked if they could use the canoe livery,” he said.
Two groups trained on the Black Fork — a basic level class on April 17 and an advanced class April 21 to 23.
Adams explained the difference.
“The swiftwater technician course involves more advanced techniques that are swim-based,” she said. “The students perform rescues that involve diving into the water and swimming out to rescue a victim in the current.
“They will be put through multiple swimming courses and will cover more-advanced rescue scenarios that involve the utilization of rope rigging. It is a strenuous week that will help set up the students for any water rescue emergency that might arise.”
The first session, a full day of intensive training, prepared students for operations level certification; the three-day training session the following week qualified trainees for technician level certification. Twenty-six students participated in the first class and 14 in the second.
By the time the advanced class came for training, the Black Fork had calmed down. The water level had dropped about five feet, but the river hadn’t yet settled within its banks.
They made the most of it. Conditions were such that mere mortals taking an unexpected swim could easily have found themselves pinned to obstacles by the current or succumbing to hypothermia.
Shipley was impressed with what he saw.
“After six years here at the canoe livery, it showed me that I’m always learning about the river,” he said. “I’d rather learn from watching training exercises by first responders than see a person risk going down the river in waters that aren’t safe.”
Below is a video highlighting the swiftwater rescue training, created by Irv Oslin. The story continues below.
Training included participants from around Ohio
Most of those who participated in the training came from Central Ohio, including first responders who work for Delaware County fire departments. Closer to home, Lydia Hockenberry took advantage of the opportunity to hone her river rescue skills. She works full-time for the Mansfield Fire Department and serves as a volunteer with the Loudonville Fire Department.
She’s already qualified for swiftwater rescue.
“The class was awesome,” Hockenberry said. “It was great being able to refine my skills with others and even learn a few new things. I’m a big advocate of ‘you can never know too much’.”
She’s also active in community outreach. In mid-May Hockenberry will give a presentation on firefighting career opportunities to seventh and eighth graders attending the annual LeaderRichland event at North Central State College and Ohio State University-Mansfield.
“My life is never dull,” Hockenberry said. “I love this job.”
Loudonville firefighters Zachary Raudebaugh and Evan Stapler also took advantage of the opportunity to get in some extra training.
Among Central Ohio firefighters participating in the April 17 session was Vaughn Firmalan. He works for the Liberty Township Fire Department in Powell. The training was a culmination of prior classroom instruction.
“Today’s training went well and it was the time to put together what we have learned and practiced throughout the week,” he said. “Powell is surrounded by two big bodies of water.
“Someday we may have to use what we learned today — whether it’s boat ops or swim techniques. Today’s training allowed us to have a good feel on quick-moving water. It was amazing to swim and operate in.”
If an award were given for the group travelling the farthest, it would likely go to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office Water Rescue Team. That’s about a 200-mile drive one-way.
In addition to swiftwater rescue, students must master five other disciplines: rope rescue, confined space rescue, auto extrication, structural collapse operations and trench rescue.
Instructor Adams explained the techniques covered.
Students must master five other disciplines
“The focus of training Friday was taking all the skills that were learned (in a classroom setting) throughout the week and applying them in a realistic environment,” she said.
That included:
- Defensive swimming for circumstances in which rescuers unexpectedly find themselves in fast-moving water.
- Throw bag operations, a shore-based technique that involves throwing a floating bag on a rope to a victim in the water to help pull them to the shore or bank.
- Paddling skills with inflatable rafts. Small rescue rafts are used in situations when the current or obstacles don’t allow for motorized boat access.
- Tension diagonal techniques using a rope strung across the river.
“The tension diagonal technique involves a rope tied from bank to bank at an angle with grab line handles for swimmers to hold onto,” Adams explained. “The current then creates a zipline effect, bringing them into the shore.”
- Motorized watercraft techniques.
“Being able to safely and efficiently operate a motorized boat in dangerous current is an important skill that can only be practiced when river conditions allow,” Adams said.
When not involved in training, she works full-time for the Washington Township Fire Department in Delaware County.
“We host a lot of rescue training at our facility through BGSU,” Adams said. “I’m very fortunate to work alongside many fantastic instructors, and my department responds to a variety of rescue calls each year.
“With a department so involved in rescue training, it’s hard not to become passionate about training that involves the different disciplines. Being a rescue technician instructor helps me keep my skills sharp. I truly enjoy teaching other firefighters to do the same.”
And in her spare time?
“Firefighters work really hard, but also play hard,” Adams said. “In my free time you’ll find me traveling, spending time outdoors, kayaking, hiking, or at home on my hobby farm. Most firefighters are terrible at sitting still.”
Training on the Black Fork was a first for the State Fire School. It might not be the last.
“The general area of Black Fork and Loudonville is scenic, beautiful, and well-maintained,” Adams said. “This is a wonderful training location when the river levels are higher than normal. Not to mention the local people and fire department.
“Everyone was enthusiastic and the hospitality did not go unnoticed. If we’re ever able to use Black Fork as a training location in the future we would be happy to come back.”
Canoe livery owner Shipley would welcome them back with open arms.
“It was heartwarming having them here and seeing how much effort they put into their training and how much they care about their duty,” he said. “It was truly a great feeling getting to meet the people who are working to make our communities safer.”
