Practicing for when hell freezes over

Firefighters from Greenwood Lake, Warwick, Monroe’s Lakeside and others participated in ice training last weekend in the frigid waters of Greenwood Lake. Classroom training, led by instructors from Port Jervis and Middlehope, took place at the Greenwood Lake Firehouse. Then it was time for cold-water training after firefighters cut through eight inches of ice. The training was done with two holes, allowing teams to work independently but also cutting down on the time firefighters spent in the cold weather. In rescuing someone who has fallen through the ice, the firefighter who jumps in the water secures the victim with a rescue line, then trails behind as the backup firefighters pull both people out of the water. (Photos by Ed Bailey)