Fire department personnel plunged into Wakeside Lake and braved freezing temperatures during an ice rescue training event on Friday just south of Rexburg. About twenty personnel participated in the training, which was sponsored by Madison Fire Department in coordination with the Teton County Fire Department, Teton County Search and Rescue and Central Fire District.
“We’re doing ice rescue training to train all the men and women that work at the Madison Fire Department and some neighboring agencies so we can do it safely and swiftly and hopefully save some victims that have fallen into the water,” said Joseph Haeberle, battalion chief over special operations for Madison Fire Department.
The training consisted of a four-hour classroom session on Thursday and hands-on sessions Friday performing scenarios in the water.