ST CROIX FALLS, WI (DrydenWire) - Host, Kirk Anderson, invited Assistant Chief Joe Stage of the St. Croix Falls Fire Department to be his guest. Joe received a life-saving award on January 13, 2024, for actions taken on October 29, 2023.
The show was live-streamed on Thursday, January 18th, at 8:30 AM on the DrydenWire Facebook page.
On October 29, 2023, at approximately 12:45 PM, St. Croix Falls Fire received an emergency call for a car that drove into a pond on the south side of Hwy. 8, just west of Marketplace Foods.
Coincidentally, St. Croix Falls' Assistant Fire Chief, Joe Stage, was traveling in his personal vehicle westbound behind a vehicle that suddenly, for unknown reasons, veered off the highway down a steep embankment into a holding pond. Stage immediately called the accident into Polk County Dispatch requesting assistance from EMS and Fire.
After pulling his truck over on the median to render aid, Stage realized the vehicle was partially submerged in the water and sinking with the driver inside. Stage updated dispatchers requesting Fire arrive with water rescue suits.
Without hesitation, Stage climbed down to the embankment to the edge of the pond. And with another passing motorist who also stopped to help, together, they entered the frigid water to extricate the driver from the vehicle as it was sinking.
We talked with Joe about his quick actions and what happened next. We will also discuss the Fire Service’s challenges to recruit new members.
Click the links to watch a replay of the Kirk Anderson Show from Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 8:30 AM.
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Last Update: Jan 18, 2024 1:58 pm CST
