Brockport firefighters hosted an ice water rescue training seminar for specialized, and rarely used, rescue teams on February 11. Approximately 50 firefighters and officers from Hilton, Spencerport, Morton, Hamlin and Lakeshore joined Brockport firefighters at the rear of Station 2 in Clarkson to practice what they had learned in the four-hour classroom seminars.

According to Deputy Chief Christian McCullough, many people seem to think the only place these teams would be used are at Lake Ontario, which is separated from the Brockport Fire District by the Town of Hamlin Districts, and the canal, which for most purposes is drained in the winter. This is not true, McCullough said. There are a great many smaller bodies of water spread around the district; ponds, large drainage retention areas and some in-ground pools pose a hazard. Both children that wander off, and outdoorsman traveling through the area are at risk when they are unaware of the sometimes hidden water.

McCullough is confident that his 15 certified team members plus the surrounding departments and their specialized teams are prepared to tackle this type of rescue should they be called upon to do so.