Ice rescue drill

On Feb. 18, at Lake Tamarack in Hardyston, the Ogdensburg, Hardyston, Franklin and Sparta Fire Departments came together along with the Hardyston Police Department to have a ice rescue training drill. To do an ice rescue requires considerable practice and training, conducted with the persons to be “rescued” wearing protective gear and secured by safety ropes. In the drill, the “victims” reproduce the panic a real victim would feel after falling through the ice and fight off rescue attempts. The rescuers then secure the victim in a water-rescue device and make hand signals to let their partners know they are ready to be pulled from the water to safety. (Photos provided by Penny Franek of the Ogdensburg Fire Department)