Quick moving storm causes dock collapse

(Above) Clear Lake firefighter responded with Fire Boat Bud, as well as rescue trucks and an ambulance, to a report of a collapsed dock with possible juveniles in the water Sunday afternoon.-Submitted photo by Jeff Turner.

The Clear Lake Fire Department responded to a report of a  dock collapsing with possible juveniles in the water at 3:03 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at the Ritz Park, located at 15406 Crane Street, Clear Lake.

According to CLFD Public Information Officer Josh Pokorney,  a storm front had come through and collapsed the dock that had multiple boats attached to it.

Reports from witnesses stated that no one was knocked into the water and everyone was accounted for.

Fire Boat Bud had begun using the side scan sonar to double check the reports, and four CLFD members were in mustang suits searching around the wreckage.

“Once we were certain that no one was in the water and there were no injuries, we turned the scene over to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and returned to the station,” stated Pokorney.

The CLFD responded to the call with one ambulance, Fire Rescue Boat “Bud”, one rescue truck and one ladder truck with 16 firefighters.  The department was assisted on the scene by Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department.