LEE COUNTY, Iowa (WGEM) - Recently, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Madison Fire Department have formed a partnership to aid each other in river rescues.

The sharing of resources will include equipment such as rescue boats to use in case of an emergency. Both agencies house their own boats that include a sonar system to track areas on the water.

Fort Madison Fire Department Chief Chad Hannum credits the great working relationship between himself and Lee County Sheriff Elliott Vandenberg as to why this partnership came about.

Hannum said there are typically not many resources that both the fire department and the sheriff’s office can share, but this is certainly one. However, Hannum said when the idea was proposed, it was a no-brainer.

“If we have the personnel that were able t

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