Emergency search

A report of a body floating in the Kaministiquia River on Tuesday afternoon had emergency personnel on the water conducting a thorough search.

District Chief Dave Grant of Thunder Bay Fire Service said an anonymous 911 call tipped them off, and in the wake of the search for missing 15-year-old Jordan Wabasse, they reacted immediately.

“Police and fire have responded to the area,” Grant said. “We initially got a call that the sighting was east of the (James Street) swing bridge, but with the strong current and wind we’re checking both sides.”

Firefighters, who got the call at about 1:45 p.m., began their marine search in a zodiac boat at the Mountdale Road boat launch, and Grant said they planned to scour both banks of the river as well as make a pass down the middle.

Grant said while they take all calls seriously, because of the Wabasse situation they’re taking extra precautions.

“We’re not going to leave this scene just quickly. We’re going to make a thorough search before our units are dispatched. After our zodiac rescue boat makes three passes, we’ll call it quits for today,” Grant said.

Wabasse disappeared on Feb. 7, last seen getting off a bus at about 10 p.m. near Holt Place.

An extensive ground , water and aerial search was conducted. Police turned up at hat, believed to belong to the teen, and a shoe, which have been sent to a forensics lab for testing.