BURKE COUNTY, N.C.,None — Charlotte firefighters practiced their swift water rescue skills after Duke Energy released more water through a dam on Lake James to the Catawba River on Tuesday.
Minutes after getting their boats in the water, firefighters began practicing rescues. One firefighter would go overboard, only to be plucked from the water by colleagues.
Firefighters said the training prepares them for emergency situations that may arise during hurricanes and flooding.
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"I think the big thing for us is to be able to (practice) in this type of weather and this type of speed of moving water," firefighter Jeff Clark said.
The water release turned the normally calm area of the Catawba River into Class III rapids. The water was flowing at about 10 mph, giving emergency crews a chance to practice for the future.
"We don't get to pick where a survivor will end up, so we have to be able to put that boat where they might be at any given time," said Battalion Chief Tim Rogers, with the Charlotte Fire Department.
Firefighters also train on their response time. They said they like it to be about an hour from the time they get the call to when they get in the water.
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