Volontari del Garda Enhance Rescue Operations with New Boats and Equipment
“We are equipping a new 115-horsepower inflatable boat. It will become operational next spring. And we have just purchased a multifunctional tanker: it will be used for road accidents, fires, gas leaks, etc. Not enough, we are also modernizing the Teleassistance service.” The Volontari del Garda, led by Gianfranco Rodella, illustrate the current operations.
The First Inflatable Boat and Equipment
The first Gemini inflatable boat was put into service last July, “blessed” by local authorities. Seven and a half meters long, three meters wide, with a 200-horsepower engine, it can reach speeds of up to one hundred kilometers per hour.
Used for rescuing distressed bathers (the latest emergency, just Sunday, when alerts were issued — later retracted — regarding a Veronese surfer in difficulty), patrolling the coasts, or as a support vessel for divers’ work, it can carry up to 16 people.
The large deck allows, among other things, the transportation of a stretcher. Two rails are used to secure racks and equipment.
The bow locker houses the fire pump, which draws water from the lake. The tanks hold 520 liters of green gasoline. Since it consumes 35 liters per hour, it has an autonomy of approximately 15 hours.
Produced by Ape Resina of Cantello (Varese), the boat is housed in the Salò Rowing Club marina. Now, a second 115-horsepower inflatable has arrived. It will serve Basso Lago.
Services and Logistical Support
“We are strengthening our detachments in Desenzano and Sirmione, located at Lugana Marina, which are fully operational,” explain Rodella and his team.
There, personnel are present 24 hours a day, from Friday to Sunday. On other days, in case of emergency, on-call availability is maintained. We take this opportunity to remind you of our phone number: 030-9198811.
The ambulance is integrated into the 118 emergency system. The municipal administrations of Sirmione, Desenzano, and Valtenesi assist us by funding our activities.
The equipment adds to the boat equipped with a camera — a “eye” capable of seeing up to 270 meters deep, equipped with two halogen searchlights and a clamp to grab objects or bodies.
It can also be used for other activities, such as inspecting pipelines of Azienda speciale Garda Uno (to detect potential leaks) or aqueducts (to verify, for instance, if mollusks are clogging intakes).
Automobile Rescue and Interventions
Volontari, whose main office is in the former Salò footwear factory, near the parking lot where the market is held on Saturdays, announce the arrival of the multifunctional tanker and recall the high number of requests for the fire truck ladder.
This is the first of the entire basin.
Only the provincial fire commands are equipped with it, not the local detachments. Purchased in the Netherlands from Baarn‘s firefighters, with whom a long-standing collaboration exists, it had to pass numerous tests before going into operation.
The ladder extends up to 26 meters. It is used to cut trees, repair dangerous gutters, or recover falling tiles.
Naturally, after days of wind, the number of intervention requests increases. Recently, the Telesoccorso, reserved for the elderly, disabled, and those in difficulty.
Currently, 160 people benefit from the service.
“In six years, we will replace the control stations with remote controls attached to the medallion provided to individuals. The innovation is that it will be possible to install carbon monoxide detectors in homes, capable of alerting to potential gas leaks.”
The Salò headquarters responds to help requests 24/7. Other news includes the purchase of about fifty uniforms, complete with helmets (costing one million each); the organization of a first aid course in Salò starting December 5; and a fire prevention course in Desenzano — date not yet fixed. Plus, a campaign to recruit members through flyers distributed by hand in public venues, shops, etc.
