Rio's water too polluted for divers

[douglas9]

Source: Laredo Morning Times

Although the Laredo Fire Department scuba diving squad is not equipped to operate in the Rio Grande, department officials say the team meets the city's needs and new equipment for the team is not a priority.The Fire Department has 12 trained divers on its rescue team, said Steve Landin, deputy chief of the Fire Department. The divers are also trained to respond to other emergencies, such as building evacuations, Landin said.


All members of the rescue team earn $180 in additional pay each month, regardless of whether they are called to any emergencies that month, Landin said. They also work regular positions as firefighters or paramedics.

Questions arose about the city's ability to deal with aquatic emergencies last month, when no agency in the county could send a diver under 10 feet of calm water in the Rio Grande to attach a cable to a submerged car. The vehicle sank after its occupants drove into the river while fleeing from Border Patrol agents. The occupants swam to safety.

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The Laredo Fire Department chose not to send their divers in on that occasion because of concerns about the dangers of water pollution, said Eloy Vega, a Fire Department spokesman.

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