This afternoon,
twelve firemen deployed from this region's Urban Search & Rescue Team
(USAR) at the request of State Fire Marshal Butch Browning. Their deployment is to Tangipohoa Parish, who
are in the midst of a dam crisis that could see 17-feet of water released
affecting over 33,000 residents of Amite, Kentwood
and surrounding areas.
Five firemen each
from the Pineville and Alexandria Fire Departments, and two firemen from Natchitoches, make up the
team headed south. They left with boats and
equipment in tow, to begin an immediate assist to Parish officials upon
arrival.
Pineville Fire Department is home to the
USAR Task Force for Region 6. Covering
10-Parishes, this group of Pineville Firemen trains and certifies over 100
other firemen in seven categories including trench rescue, close confinement rescue,
structural collapse rescue, high angle rescue, dive rescue & recovery,
hazmat technicians and wild land search & rescue.
