The Mississippi River was frozen and looked pretty solid near North Heron Bend fishing area Saturday morning.
Local firefighters weren’t about to let a little thing like ice or a cutting wind get in the way of some training. They cut though the ice with a chainsaw and sent one of their own — clad in ice rescue gear and attached to a rope — into the drink.
The “victim” splashed and called out for help, while firefighters on the shore gave instructions to spread out his arms on the ice if he could and to kick his legs and to keep calm.
Another firefighter, also clad in ice rescue gear and with a safety rope, walked out on the ice to rescue his colleague. The “victim” and rescuer were hauled back to the shore by fellow firefighters.
Fort Madison Fire Department and Denmark Fire Department were training together.
Denmark Fire Chief Todd Ross said his department just got three new suits for ice rescue last year, thanks to a sizable bequest.
“We just can’t train (for ice rescue) any time of year. So we’re trying to get trained up. We do mutual aid Fort Madison,” he said. “So today is a good day to come out and do some training.”
Fort Madison Fire Department Engineer Drew Weisinger said the firefighters would go through different rescue scenarios, “having them coming up, using straps and different things to get around the victim and get them pulled out; let different guys do it. Do some different evolutions of it.”
“Fort Madison has had suits for probably 15-plus years but these guys just got them. It’s a good chance to get the two departments together,” he said. “If something ever would happen, it’s nice to have another department to call on for more manpower, more suits.”