FENTON, Mo. – With heavy rains expected and flash flooding, the Fenton Fire District has to be ready. 

That’s why they have this high-tech FLIR camera up front and the jet engine on the back to help them save people.

The infrared camera is to help them see in the dark.

And the jet engine helps keep an engine prop from getting caught on debris in flooded water.

“It seems to be more of a regular occurrence every year,” says Mike Long, firefighter of Fenton Fire District. “It’s something we’ve always prepared for, but it now seems yearly that we’ve got boats out and people out dealing with these high waters that are coming in.”

It’s not a matter of if they’ll need to use their boat this weekend, but when.

Friday afternoon, while rain came down over highway 44 and 141, the Fenton Fire District was ready for flash flooding.

“In weather like today our more likely call is people driving into water or walking into water and they can’t get out,” says Daniel Odenwald, firefighter of Fenton Fire District.  “We’ll be deploying one of our swift water guys and our boats to go get them.” 

Eureka has seen its share of flooding, with Bommarito Automotive SkyFOX capturing this video from August 2017.

Like Eureka Fire Protection District, just down the road, the Fenton Fire District also has the Meramec River to deal with.

Heavy rainfall from thunderstorms may lead to flash flooding this evening and through Saturday.

That has first responders with a message to any driver experiencing water over a road: Turn around, don’t drown.

“We obviously highly suggest that nobody try and drive through it,” says Long. “But those chances that one car can get through, it can happen. But it’s better to turn and don’t drown.”