Search resumes for missing fire chief

HARRISON TWP., Mich. (WJBK) - The search for an area fire chief who disappeared in the waters of Lake St. Clair resumed Monday morning.

Southfield Fire Chief Keith Rowley was boating with friends Friday night when the captain's hat flew off into the choppy waters. Rowley jumped in to retrieve the hat, but never resurfaced.

Since then, dive teams have been combing the waters. Search crews halted the search, though, around 8:40 p.m. Sunday because of the high winds. They were back on the waters around 7:30 a.m. Monday.

Rescue teams are focusing the search in an area about two miles from shore. They don't have an exact GPS location as to where Rowley jumped in the water, and are focusing in an area where they had a cell phone signal.

Rowley has been with the Southfield Fire Department since 1979. He was well-known among Oakland County law enforcers, who joined the search effort over the weekend.

Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham has said the search is now a recovery, not a rescue.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 2 for updates.