Spokane Valley Firefighters from all stations participated in Ice Rescue Training on Newman Lake in January this year.  Action Training Systems joined SVFD to capture and film the training experience for use in creating a training tool.

SVFD crews train on ice to be appropriately prepared to respond to an emergency on the ice or in the water. Target Hazards are identified in a community in order to develop pre-plans to manage incidents should one happen.  They not only include physical structures and occupancies, but also bodies of water (i.e. lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, etc.) within a community which can pose a danger to the public when engaged in recreational activities in, on and around the water or ice.

Ice or water rescue is an aspect of the SVFD’s comprehensive risk management program.  It is necessary to identify and assess those activities that place citizens at risk, in order to eliminate or minimize the danger to the public and train our First Responders on effective and quick rescue techniques.

Watch this great drone footage of Spokane Valley Firefighters on Newman Lake in icy conditions.  The cloudy aspects of the ice are a good indication that this is not a solid foundation and is not safe.  SVFD Firefighters fell through the ice several times during this training.