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With temperatures slightly more than 10 degrees, BCFD Division Chief Michael Tibbetts decided Monday would be a great day to practice ice recues.
 
Tibbetts, BCFD training chief, found firefighters eager to brave the cold air and water.
 
The thermometer was bouncing between 13 and 14 degrees and the wind wasn’t too bad – registering between 5 and 10 miles-per-hour.
 
An area of a small Bargersville pond was opened with a power saw. The ice was 5-inches thick.
 
Firefighters entering the frigid water to play the role of “victim” wore a water rescue suit, as did his “rescuers.” The pace was quick as firefighters switched roles to “save” the drowning person.
 
When a firefighter reaches the victim, he enters the water and helps the victim become secured to a rope manned at shore. Once out of the water, the pair is quickly pulled together across the ice by firefighters.
 
The training was necessary because the fire district is dotted with small ponds, many along county and state roads as well as neighborhoods. While infrequent, vehicles sometimes veer into the water.
Other times, people or animals become trapped after falling through ice covering ponds.
 
On Monday, the victims often could not resist a big splash to the face of a rescuer while yelling: “Save me! Help! I’m drowning.”