08/20/2026
Local Dive Team Combines Specialized Rescue and Emergency Medical Care
On Saturday, divers from the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and Northern Lakes Fire District were dispatched to Worley, ID for a swimmer who went missing while recreating in the water.
In a coordinated effort between both agencies, multiple dive personnel responded on duty and from home to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office boathouse. KCSO Divers and a Northern Lakes Fire District Diver responded by watercraft to the scene, entered the water, descended to depth, and successfully located and recovered the victim, bringing him to the surface.
Emergency crews on boats and shore immediately began providing care, with additional advanced medical resources arriving shortly afterward.
This incident also marked an important step forward in the continued development of the local dive team. For the first time in this area, a Northern Lakes Fire District diver was able to transition directly from the water rescue mission into providing emergency medical care alongside the shore-based EMS crews.
The development of a combined dive and EMS capability allows Northern Lakes Fire District EMTs and paramedics to serve as members of this highly specialized team in conjunction with the KCSO Dive Team. This unique integration gives trained medical providers the ability to reach water-related victims during the rescue itself and begin providing critical care as soon as the patient is accessible.
The partnership between Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and Northern Lakes Fire District demonstrates the value of agencies working together to expand capabilities, improve response, and ultimately provide the highest level of care possible to communities throughout Kootenai County.
