County officials receptive to proposal for search and rescue training

The dive team for the Peachtree City Fire Department is working out an agreement with Fayette County to conduct occasional training drills at lakes Horton and Kedron.

Joe O’Connor, assistant chief of training for the fire department, told the county commission Wednesday that the training is needed to familiarize the dive team with the deeper waters of the two lakes compared to the relatively shallow Lake Peachtree.

A recommendation from the water committee had suggested the dive team not be allowed to use a jet ski, but after O’Connor explained how it was utilized, the commissioners agreed to allow its use.

O’Connor said the ski has a special attachment that allows crews to more easily recover bodies should the need ever arise. Otherwise the dive team would have to lift the body into a boat, which is a far more arduous process, he noted.

When told there was some concern about the jet ski being more a recreational vehicle than a public safety vehicle, O’Connor said he would assure the commission it will be used properly during the training.

O’Connor said the Peachtree City dive team is the only one currently operating in the county so it would be summoned to assist should an incident happen on Lake Horton.

The agreement, which was not voted on by commissioners, has other restrictions on the training.

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