Firefighters from Hillsdale County joined the effort to clear wreckage from Branch County Lake following a deadly tornado in March.
Members of the Montgomery Fire Department Dive Team traveled to Union Lake on Sunday to help pull debris from the water. They worked alongside the Branch County Sheriff’s Office and several other local agencies.
The cleanup was organized by the Southeast Michigan Dive Group, a large regional network that helps departments across the tri-state area share resources. Other groups involved included the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Police and fire crews from Fremont, Indiana.
Crews have removed about 130 yards of trash and debris from the lake so far. Divers worked underwater to locate and remove large items that could pose a danger to boaters or the environment.
Branch County Sheriff Fred Blankenship thanked those involved in the effort, including area businesses that donated supplies to help with the work. The Union Lake Association provided lunch for the volunteers who spent the day on the water.