Riverside Fire Department Receives New Lifejackets Through WPS Grant

The Riverside Fire Department is upgrading its life vests. The Wisconsin Public Service Foundation Rewarding Responders grant program approved the departmentโ€™s request earlier this year and fulfilled the order on Wednesday.

Chief David Briggs says itโ€™s part of a plan to upgrade the departmentโ€™s water rescue tools, which are essential in a community situated near the Wisconsin River and other waterways. โ€œThough parts of it are very slow-moving, that river is generally considered swift water,โ€ said Briggs. โ€œAnd of course, we are right across from Domtar, which is undertaking a [significant] dam reconstruction. It is timely that we have these now, forbid something happens [there], but we will be more prepared to serve in that capacity.โ€ The new vests are designed specifically for water rescues and replace the departmentโ€™s current vests, which are more suited for survival in the water.

WSAU-AM 550/FM 95.1 Wausau

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