Coordinator Battalion Chief Ron Fox

Team Members | Training | Incidents | Dive Rescue Team

Mission Statement

The Joliet Fire Department Dive Team's mission is to provide a professional response to water rescue and recovery incidents to the residents of and visitors to the City of Joliet.

The Dive Rescue Team is a specialized unit within the Joliet Fire Department. It goes above and beyond regular firefighting duties, comprised of trained and motivated individuals. At present, the team consists of 14 members. Training is a mandatory monthly occurrence at various locations around the City Of Joliet.

The Dive Team utilizes dry suits because of the necessity to dive in a cold temperature environment, and the hazmat composition of the water. We operate in full face aga-masks with hardwire communications.

The team employs a progressive stand in the manner it conducts its missions. Due to the constant development of new retention ponds and the heavily populated Des-Plains River traffic, we must remain pro-active in our resolve to deliver the best possible team to the citizens we have sworn to serve.

Though prepared for deployment anywhere in the state of Illinois, the teams main areas of coverage are the waterways of Joliet and its immediate surrounding areas. Some of the waterways within the city borders are extremely dangerous, primarily because man has altered their structure and composition. The Des-Plains River is an old man-made River which runs through the city center in Joliet, with everything imaginable on its floor. 

Most of the missions are conducted by feel and touch. The diver’s remaining senses must compensate for the lack of sight.  None of our diver’s ever dives alone, when a diver enters the water, silence is mandatory, concentration is necessary and absolute teamwork is paramount.