A joint ice water rescue training exercise Feb. 24 was a valuable experience for emergency personnel who respond to calls for help from the fire service area’s lakes and rivers.
The Wayland/Yankee Springs Township Fire Department, Yankee Springs DNR Parks Division and Barry County Sheriff’s Marine Division dive team took part in the combined Ice Rescue Training/Dive at the Yankee Springs State Park day use area at Gun Lake.
The training helps the different units understand what the others units tasks are, to understand their protocols and improve communication.
The DNR and W/YSTFD are on the same radio frequency and can communicate easily. Also, when a call comes in, the fire department calls Lansing and is immediately put on the States Event Channel, so multi-agencies can hear and talk to each other at the same time.
The scenario for the “rescue” had a man through the ice far out in Gun Lake. When “rescuers” got to him, the man told them a second “victim” was also in the water, so they ordered a helicopter. They took the second victim out first because he was in the “worst shape” and were then told another “victim” was under the ice on the other side of the lake. They diverted two responders who “rescued” him.
“Everybody worked together, new divers got some good training and the communication was good. Afterward, we critiqued the incident. We’re pleased with how it went; this will help on a real call,” Miller said. In a real emergency, Orangeville and Martin fire departments would respond; they couldn’t make the training, he added.
“We also put to use the new tracks added onto our UTV. We put it on the ice to carry equipment,” Miller said. “We’re really appreciate the Yankee Springs Township Board and the taxpayers for approving the tracks. Now we can use it year round instead of just eight or nine months of the year.”
Photos:
(upper left) Wayland/Yankee Springs Fire Department firefighters measure the water’s depth in Gun Lake during the ice water rescue training.
(left) This UTV's tires were replaced with tracks, making it a year around rescue vehicle.
Photos courtesy of Dan Miller
