The Fire Department recently completed its annual ice rescue training, ensuring members remain prepared to respond quickly and safely to emergencies on frozen waterways. This year’s training was intentionally designed to be more realistic and demanding, reflecting the challenging conditions responders may encounter during an actual ice rescue incident.

To increase realism, simulated victims were positioned significantly farther from the shoreline than in previous years. This made visual contact and communication more difficult, requiring both rescuers and command staff to adapt to limited visibility and extended distances. These conditions closely mirror real world scenarios.

The training was further enhanced through collaboration with the Police Department, which incorporated drone technology into the exercise. Drones were utilized to assist with victim searches, establish distance markers on the ice, and improve real-time communication between responders operating on the ice and command staff. This partnership proved to be a valuable and successful experience, strengthening interagency coordination and demonstrating how technology can enhance emergency response efforts.

The Fire Department extends its sincere thanks to the Police Department for their professionalism, collaboration, and commitment to training together in support of public safety.

All photos by Jon Barker, Salem Fire Department.