History Of Water Rescue

In 1962, the First Aid Corps began forming an underwater rescue team led by Robert “Donny” Frank, who, along with three others, became certified divers in early 1963. They trained regularly and responded to calls across the region for nearly a decade until the team dissolved in the early 1970s due to aging equipment and lack of new members.

In 1971, the Corps shifted focus to boating support, purchasing a boat for water-related emergencies, which served until it was lost in a 2001 storm. A replacement boat, “Marine 13,” was acquired in 2002 and remains in service. In 1996, Donny’s son, Robert “Bobby” Frank, helped relaunch the dive team as a joint effort between the First Aid and Fire Department. The new SCUBA team, supported by trained divers and tenders, operated until disbanding again in 2012.

Today, the Water Rescue Unit continues to respond to surface water emergencies, ice rescues, and EMS calls across the Navesink River and surrounding communities.

Line Officers

The Fair Haven Water Rescue Unit is led by a Water Rescue Coordinator who oversees all water-related emergency operations, including surface rescues, ice rescues, and EMS support on the Navesink River and surrounding waterways. As a specialized subdivision of the First Aid Squad and FD, the unit trains year-round and responds to a range of marine incidents. The Coordinator assists other Line Officers in organizing training, maintaining equipment, and ensuring readiness for emergencies, playing a vital role in the unit’s effectiveness and coordination with other emergency services.