IVFD, Search and Rescue respond to calls in the area

The Imperial Volunteer Fire Department recently responded to two calls in five days, including a call for assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol.
Friday morning the Imperial Search and Rescue dive team was called in by Nebraska Game and Parks Conservation Officer Sophie Gobber and the Nebraska State Patrol at the scene of a missing person and boat at Swanson Reservoir west of Trenton.
    A Ford F-150 pickup and empty boat trailer were found at the boat dock unoccupied. The unoccupied boat was recovered from the lake.
    Sonar equipment was used to identify a possible body in the water near the boat ramp.
    Imperial Search and Rescue recovered the body of Michael Harrison, 68, of Goodland, Kansas, who was owner of the boat.
    Nebraska State Patrol took over the investigation into Harrison’s death at the request of the Hitchcock County Sheriff’s Office. The Trenton Fire Department also participated at the scene.
    Tuesday just before 1 p.m., the IVFD responded to a prairie fire 1/4 mile west of Imperial and Chase County Community Hospital.
    The fire is believed to have been started by a baler, Assistant Chief Brad Wheeler said, but the exact start of the fire wasn’t determined.
    Wheeler said IVFD members never saw smoke in the air and it wasn’t a very big fire.
    IFVD also recognized the anniversary of 9/11 with a display outside the fire barn Monday.