Jacksonville firefighters train on ice

  • Zach Reed reaches out to Matt Leischner as Jacksonville firefighters train for ice rescues on Morgan Lake in Nichols Park. If someone were to fall through the ice, that would mean surrounding ice would not be very stable. So rescuers were trained to splay out on the ice to distribute their weight, and to use tools like an inflatable raft, ladder and/or ropes to pull the victim to safety.
  • Jacksonville Firefighters Jim Williams (left) and Scott Hudson practice ice rescue techniques.
  • Jacksonville firefighters and trainers used Morgan Lake in Jacksonville’s Nichols’ Park for their training.
  • Chris Kesler (left) and Brian Gillespie hold on to an inflatable raft during ice rescue training on Morgan Lake in Nichols Park.
  • Jacksonville Firefighters Chris Kesler and Brian Gillespie listen to ice rescue trainers during a session on Morgan Lake in Nichols Park.
  • Chris Kesler holds on to an inflatable sled as Brian Gillespie moves in to secure him so Jacksonville firefighters could pull the pair out of the water during ice rescue training on Morgan Lake in Nichols Park.
  • Jacksonville Firefighter Chris Kesler blows a whistle while waiting to be “rescued” during ice rescue training on Morgan Lake in Nichols Park.
  • Jacksonville Firefighters Zach Reed (left) and rescuer Matt Leischner hold on as other firefighters pull them from a hole in the ice as the Jacksonville Fire Department trains for ice rescues on Morgan Lake in Nichols Park. See Pages 3, 4 and 5 for more photos.

By Steve Warmowski
Photos by Steve Warmowski.

Jacksonville Fire Department Chief Doug Sills said 27 members of the fire department received training last week from Trident Rescue on Morgan Lake in Nichols Park. Firefighters were taught techniques to use inflatable sleds, ladders, ropes and other equipment to pull in people from holes in the ice.

Chief Sills said the probability is low someone would fall through the ice, but such an event would present a high risk because weak ice around the victim would put rescuers at risk. Firefighters spent a full day training – first with a classroom session at the Nichols Park Pavilion then followed by donning dry suits and high visibility ice rescue suits for real world rescues.

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