TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – When people think of firefighters, images of them combating forest fires or running out of smoke filled buildings, but seldom think of the dozens of other specialized tasks they perform including water and ice rescues. 

Over the weekend several fire departments gathered on Silver Lake in Grand Traverse County to receive training in this particular skill as the Michigan winter drags on.  

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“We’re here to refresh for some of us, it’s not our first time, but many of the classes are first times and basic ice rescue concepts and how to be safe,” Green Lake Township Emergency Services Chief Daryl Case said. “How to help victims, things that we look for that we can do to mitigate and work in teams.”

The groups over the weekend mixed up different departments thus allowing firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) the chance to work with people they didn’t regularly work with.  

“Part of what we do is work with our neighbors and work with those other departments in situations like this that we need more help,” Chief Daryl said. 

Co-owner of Michigan Rescue Concepts, Mark Hoskin, says that this life-saving training is something that has become more critical this year with the recent warmer weather according to UpNorthLive.  MRC is a group that provides specialized training programs such as water and ice rescue training to First Responders.  

“We’re looking at these departments having more rescues this year with the way the weather has been up and down,” Hoskin said. “Two of our departments we’ve worked with– Manistee County Fire Department– Norman township had a rescue a few days ago with a snowmobiler, and another one down further state by Greenville, Montcalm Township. They actually had to go out and get a gentleman that was out on the ice, so with the fluctuation in temperatures, we’re seeing our departments that we work with, start to put their skills to work.”

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Chief Case also said that with the training, going out and trying to rescue someone comes as a last option, and only after trying to reach them with other objects such as a ladder or stick.  The crews over the weekend also had access to boats and rescue sleds that other departments might not yet have, but it’s an “evolution” of gear according to Case.