News

Children from the Children's Burn Center are spending the week of August 17th, 2009 at Camp Barnes. Their meals are being prepared by local fire department Ladies Auxiliaries. On Tuesday August 18th a hoist demonstration by the Delaware State Police Aviation Section was performed for the children in Lewes. Prior to the hoist demo, the Ladies Auxiliary of Slaughter Beach Fire Department served the children a meal. The children were then driven to Lewes by members of the Bethany Beach and Millville Fire Departments in fire company vans. In Lewes the children were met by members of the Lewes and Slaughter Beach Fire Departments. They were divided into two groups and placed on the Lewes and Slaughter Beach Fire Boats. Rescue swimmers from both fire departments entered the water in the Roosevelt Inlet to act as victims for the helicopter hoist demo. The rescue boats with the children on board were located near the swimmers to give the children a close view of the swimmers being lifted by basket out of the water. Close watch was held over the entire scene by a 47 foot USCG motor life boat that was there to perform SAR duties if anything went wrong with the demonstration. Following the three hoist rescues, the children were taken for a boat ride up the Broadkill River on the fire boats. While enjoying this ride, the children were each allowed a turn at shooting the water cannons on the fire boats. Upon returning to the USCG dock at Lewes the children were treated to a tour of the visiting USCG Ocean Going Tug, the USS Sledge. A good time was had by all.