East Haven Firefighters Brave Icy Waters In Training Exercises

EAST HAVEN, CT — It's a stunning statistic shared by East Haven's Fire Chief Matthew Marcarelli: Annually in the U.S. around 250 people fall through the ice and drown. So firefighters are trained to save the life of someone who falls through the ice.

In a recent training in Foxon Pond at Bennett Road and Thomas Court, East Haven firefighters affected a simulated rescue in the "hostile freezing waters" that this winter, certainly, can be found across East Haven.

Marcarelli said the "most common method of rescue order" is reach, throw, go. Reach the victim with a pole, throw a rope to them and pull them to safety. Or, send a rescuer into the icy water.

He explained how they affect these rescues and using what equipment.

"Special equipment such as an ice sled disburses the rescuers weight so they can gain access to the victim without falling through ice, as well as floating ropes," he said. "But the most important tool is training. These are high-hazard, but low-frequency events that require more preparation to undertake without risking rescuers and ensuring the best outcome for victims."

"Lesson here is don’t go on the ice," he said. "We’ve not had enough long term sub freezing weather to make sure ice is thick enough to sustain activity on it safely."