VIDEO: A local fire department has a new piece of sonar equipment that will help them locate a person underwater more quickly.
The Vincennes Township Fire Department recently purchased an AQUAEYE handheld sonar device.
Fire Chief Tim Smith said it uses new technology that will help them determine when they’ve located a person in the water, rather than an object.
He said while their boats already have sonar equipment, this new handheld device is faster for them to deploy.
“It’s basically designed for victims that may be close to shore, that maybe were swimming or doing some recreational activity, but there’s a general idea of where they’re located, and the first arriving crews can immediately deploy that,” said Smith.
Smith added the department had a loaner unit of this device before purchasing one, so their crews were able to practice and get familiar with it.