Crack!—Splash—Brrr!—Oh no! That otherwise everyday ice fishing trip on the lake or river has veered towards tragedy. Preparing for just such an event beforehand to avoid the worst, Cottage Grove Fire took time out Saturday to practice ice rescue techniques on Grey Cloud Channel and at Pine Tree Park.

Using a somewhat larger than auger with manmade hole in the ice along with a naturally thin spot by the bridge, members practiced distributing their weight, entering and exiting the water safely to help those in dire distress, and pulling each other (along with the person in distress) out of danger using ropes, all while wearing protective suits. The cold water made them necessary.

All pictures by Joseph Back.

Down at a naturally thin spot through which the Grey Cloud Channel flows (flowing water can affect ice thickness), members of the department put their skills to work while wearing suits to protect against hypothermia.

Cones away from the open square, someone looked in trouble!

The person in the water was pulling to safety by members of Cottage Grove Fire Department.