INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - The Pike Township Fire Department notified its members Friday of their plan to end the dive team in June.
Fire Chief Arthur Borel said after an analysis of data, the risk and reward of the program showed the department taking a lot of risk with "basically no reward."
The chief said non-diving crews are equipped with water rescue suits and necessary equipment is carried on fire engines and ladder trucks that can save a person in the water.
According to the chief, the only change to the program is that once a person goes under the water another agency with divers would need to assist.
Chief Borel told members the cost of maintaining the dive team was high and staffing has also been a problem.
A Pike Township diver who asked not to be identified told Eyewitness News Friday after they were told of the decision that no divers would lose their jobs, and would remain with the department as firefighters.
He said they were not told what the department would do with its dive equipment when they asked department administrators about the future of the program.
According to Pike Township, the dive team responded to 24 calls in 2018 and only four of the calls required an actual dive, and three of those were to help recover submerged vehicles for towing companies.
