Hope Fire Company firefighter Tom Monahan heads for shore after pulling Assistant Chief Steve Gomba from the Allentown Mill Pond during ice rescue training on March 6. Hope Fire Company firefighters learned and refined their ice rescue skills during a training exercise on the frozen Allentown Mill Pond.
The exercise on Feb. 27 emphasized the many difficulties rescuers may face in rescuing a victim who has fallen through ice, according to Hope Fire Company President Steve Gomba.
“Although the winter season is hopefully behind us, Hope Fire Company would like to remind all that no ice is safe ice,” Gomba said. Firefighters used ice-rescue equipment, including personal protective equipment, dry suits, harnesses, life vests, throw rope, rescue sled, rescue disks, rescue slings and anchoring rope while practicing ice rescue operation procedures. They practiced entering the water and contending with fragile ice until they were able to reach other firefighters playing the role of victims.
Firefighters made their way across the ice, secured the “victims” and brought them to shore.