Water rescue and training is nothing new to the Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire Department, but one thing it's been missing is a boat. This weekend, the department trained on Beaver Creek with its new inflatable boat. The raft is meant to be used in areas with shallow water or on flooded roadways.
The purchase of the boat and training come at a crucial time for the department. The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is performing a study to determine if they want to turn Beaver Creek into a river trail to be used by people on paddle boards or kayaks. Clark says this training is meant to serve as a proactive approach.