Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force prepares for busy season
By Kainani Stevens
With summer fast approaching a marine task force geared up today for their busiest time of the year.
John Roberts, Commanding Officer of the Castle Hill Coast Guard, told ABC6 that there is no other task force like this in the country.
“The Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force is setting precedence nationwide in my estimation,” said Roberts. “The interoperability between local, state and federal is outstanding and is a huge force multiplier for the Coast Guard. We utilize them hundreds of times over the year for calls we get out on the water.”
The task force which was formed in 2011 allows the Coast Guard to work in conjunction with many local crews in responding to emergency calls.
The local crews most recently responded to a distress call of two swimmers in Barrington and were able to rescue the girls before the Coast Guard made it to the scene.
“We had a huge fog bank to come through,” explained Roberts. “Barrington and Portsmouth were able to rescue those two young ladies. That was a huge save. It’s because of this kind of training happening, that that rescue was able to happen.”
“It’s in our nature as firefighters to work together,” said Ryan Grady, East Greenwich firefighter and member of the task force. “We are used to that. But this is great and a huge asset to the public.”
Responding to nearly 600 emergency incidents last year the task force has already proved its worth in more ways than one.
© WLNE-TV 2015
