Bruceton Brandonville VFD now has swift water rescue team | WBOY.com

(Courtesy: Bruceton Brandonville Volunteer Fire Department)

BRUCETON MILLS, W.Va. (WBOY) — After assuming responsibility for emergency response at one of the most dangerous swimming holes in the state “on a very short notice,” the Bruceton Brandonville Volunteer Fire Department now has the training and equipment needed for the job.

The VFD assumed emergency response to the swimming area known as Blue Hole in March after the Jenkinsburg Bridge was closed, cutting off the route from the Masontown Volunteer Fire Department, which has done water rescues in the area for years.

With donations from the Preston County Commission and the community, the Bruceton Brandonville VFD has been able to purchase a rescue boat and other equipment needed for a swift water operations team. It showed off its new boat in a social media post on Sunday and announced last week that it has a fully certified swift water operations team with seven members.

“We are so proud of them for stepping up to a need on a very short notice and giving of their time for additional trainings to add certifications to their already long list,” the department said on social media.

The new water crew already helped with water rescues at schools in Allegany County, Maryland during flash flooding back in May.