FARGO, N.D. - When I lived in Bismarck I had the opportunity to witness ice rescue practice first hand.
The local fire department was practicing in the spring as ice conditions on lakes were starting to weaken and become unsafe due to warm spring temperatures. I asked if I could get in the water with them as they had special suits to stay warm in the near freezing water. I’ll never forget how weird the ice felt as we walked to the area they had cut out to work on these mock rescues. The ice would actually move and sag as we walked across.
At one point a fire rescue team member, while wearing the warm neoprene suit, fell through as he walked to where the main practicing was taking place. We got some great footage from the shoot, but the main thing I took away from that evening with the local fire department was the appreciation of how ice conditions can change.
