SANDUSKY, Ohio — Divers with the Sandusky Fire Department, as well as other support team members, recovered two pieces of underwater debris off a pier Tuesday that authorities said posed underwater hazards.
In a social media post from the Sandusky Fire Fighters union, IAFF Local 327, authorities said a large tire had broken away from the dock at Jackson Street Pier in Sandusky. It sank underwater, causing a hazard.
To recover the tire, the fire department dispatched two teams of two divers each, as well as a support team. The divers worked to find the tire, conducting searches in what the post described as "zero visibility conditions" underwater.
An initial underwater search did not yield the tire, but instead a section of fencing used in crowd control. The fencing was removed, and the search for the tire continued.
Divers finally located the tire, and attached a float to it to maintain awareness of its location. The second team of divers then dove to the tire and attached a lifting strap and lift bag to the object.
The tire was ultimately surfaced and secured to the department's fire boat, and transported to the boat ramp for removal from the water.
According to the NOAA, underwater debris can pose a risk for boat navigation, swim safety and marine life. It can be exacerbated by storms. To learn more about reporting large marine debris, as well as prevention efforts, click here.
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