Firefighters will be training in ice water rescue on the river this weekend (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Ice Rescue

P.A. firefighters training on water rescue

Mar 22, 2019 | 5:44 PM

People driving by the river this weekend may notice the Prince Albert Fire Department out and about.

The department’s firefighters will be working on a number of rescue technics as they recertify their training.

Acting Deputy Fire Chief Kris Olsen told paNOW water rescue skills are important ones for the department’s firefighters.

“Within our jurisdiction we have the river here and we’ve got to make sure that our staff our continuing training and keeping up with their skills,” he said. “For the entire week, we’ll have crews off and on. They’ll be in the classroom and then back at the ice for the practical.”

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The fire department has a number of members in house who are certified to teach and train others for water rescue. On Friday James Dorward directed the training exercises on self rescue, and rescuing others.

Along with throwing rescue items to people who are in distress, firefighters were also working with specialized equipment.

Dorward said the types of techniques and equipment used by firefighters vary depending on a number of factors.

“It’s going to depend on the victim that’s in the water [and] how fast we have to get there,” he said.

The acting chief said as temperatures start warming up they often get calls about people being out on the ice. Olsen said the most recent was not that long ago.

“Just last week, we went to a rescue on the east side of the city which involved children on the ice,” he said. “It’s never a good time to go on the ice, on the river ice, but especially now.”

Firefighters getting suited up as they head down to the river Friday afternoon. (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn