A rescue swimmer pulls a 150-pound training dummy out of Lake Stevens during a water rescue training scenario on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

A rescue swimmer pulls a 150-pound training dummy out of Lake Stevens during a water rescue training scenario on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

To prepare for summer, firefighters simulate Lake Stevens water rescue

It was a joint exercise between different fire and police agencies. Three fake victims were pulled from the water.

LAKE STEVENS — Water rescue teams in boats and wetsuits from across Snohomish County waded into Lake Stevens on Tuesday to prepare for a drowning.

In this rescue scenario, one person simulated drowning in the water near Davies Beach. Two dummies, each weighing 150 pounds, wearing dress shirts, fake hair and meant to replicate human buoyancy, were also placed in the water at different depths.

Around 10 a.m., firefighters broadcast an “emergency” over the police scanner. Three people were unaccounted for in the water — two adults and a teenager. Dozens of firefighters and police had no prior knowledge of the situation, to make it as realistic as possible, said Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue Lt. Jamal Beckham.

The Lake Stevens Police Department provided a rescue boat and a drone to assist. Firefighters stationed closest to the lake were on the scene first.

Divers from Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue, Snohomish County Fire District 4, Marysville Fire Department and and Everett Fire Department swim along the shore of Lake Stevens looking for a dummy during a water rescue training scenario on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Divers from Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue, Snohomish County Fire District 4, Marysville Fire Department and and Everett Fire Department swim along the shore of Lake Stevens looking for a dummy during a water rescue training scenario on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Swimmers from Snohomish Regional, the Marysville Fire Department, the Everett Fire Department and Snohomish County Fire District 4 searched for the simulated victims. It took an hour for Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office divers to arrive, a realistic response time considering the distance they would have to travel.

Getchell Assistant Fire Chief Jeremy Stoker also surveyed the area using a drone. Drone technology is fairly new when it comes to assisting water rescues, as law enforcement mostly uses them for securing perimeters, police said.

Beckham, who is also the swiftwater rescue coordinator for Snohomish Regional, was the “live victim” in the simulation. Within 15 minutes, firefighters spotted him and carried him out of the water. Shortly afterward, with help from one of the aerial drones, rescue swimmers recovered a dummy.

A drone with a flotation device flies over divers looking for a dummy in the water during a water rescue training scenario on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

A drone with a flotation device flies over divers looking for a dummy in the water during a water rescue training scenario on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Even in calm water, unexpectedly cold water and crowded conditions can make recreational swimming dangerous. Lake Stevens is the busiest lake in Snohomish County, and the Davies Beach area can get so crowded it’s hard to notice when someone is drowning, according to the Snohomish Regional Fire District.

“We try to do our rescue swimmer training leading up to summer, so we’re all fresh and ready,” Beckham said.

In June 2022, two boys drowned and a teenage girl was hospitalized after swimming at Davies Beach. Rescue divers pulled Malachi Bell, 12, and Zander Perry, 13, out of the water. They died at the scene. The swimming area was so crowded that no one noticed they were drowning, fire authorities said.

A diver pulls a 150-pound dummy up from the bottom of Lake Stevens during a water rescue demonstration on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

A diver pulls a 150-pound dummy up from the bottom of Lake Stevens during a water rescue demonstration on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

The rivers of Snohomish County are always colder than the lakes, because of mountain snow run-off, said Peter Mongillo, spokesperson for Snohomish Regional. On Tuesday morning, Lake Stevens was 50 degrees, still considered very cold, Mongillo said.

Fire departments practice a water rescue operation at least once a year. The training usually takes place in May, in preparation for the summer. Last year, water rescue training took place in the Skykomish River, where firefighters practiced live rescues in the swift-moving water.

Boats from multiple fire departments and law enforcement agencies participate in a water rescue training scenario on Lake Stevens on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Boats from multiple fire departments and law enforcement agencies participate in a water rescue training scenario on Lake Stevens on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Swift and calm water rescue operations are completely different, Assistant Chief Stoker said. In rapids, divers can’t be used because of the water’s visibility and speed.

Around 11:15 a.m., swimmers spotted the last dummy victim near the dock about 25 feet down in the water. Everett firefighter John Buban helped pull the 150-pound mannequin out of the water and into a rescue boat.

“It gets really tiring holding your breath for a long time,” Buban said.

John Buban from the Everett Fire Department delivers the final water rescue dummy to the dock at Davies Beach on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

John Buban from the Everett Fire Department delivers the final water rescue dummy to the dock at Davies Beach on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Four hours were set aside for the operation if necessary, but all victims were rescued within 75 minutes. At the end of the training, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Daniel Johnson said he was happy with the results of the collaborative effort, and that he wants to work with fire districts even more to ensure faster response times.

“Doing training like this, we can see what we can do and how we can assist each other out,” he said.

Jonathan Tall: 425-339-3486; jonathan.tall@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @EDHJonTall.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

The second floor of the Lynnwood Crisis Center on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Funding gap leaves Lynnwood without a crisis center provider

The idea for the Lynnwood crisis center began in 2021 after a 47-year-old died by suicide while in custody at Lynnwood Municipal Jail.

Three seriously injured after head-on collision on Highway 522

The crash between Monroe and Maltby happened around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Fernando Espinoza salts the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue South on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Think this is cold, Snohomish County? Wait until Tuesday

Tuesday could bring dangerous wind chill during the day and an overnight low of 19 degrees

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The Washington State Department of Licensing office is seen in 2018 in Seattle. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
Drivers licensing offices to close Feb. 14-17

Online services are also not available Feb. 10-17. The Washington State Department of Licensing said the move is necessary to upgrade software.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.