Vernon Township, NJ — January 11 — Company #1 of the Vernon Township Fire Department participated in a cooperative ice rescue training exercise at Lake Wallkill with members of three nearby agencies. Crews had the chance to practice with a brand-new ice rescue boat and go over crucial rescue procedures during the multi-agency exercise that concentrated on ice and cold water rescue operations. While working in winter settings that mimic actual response scenarios, firefighters practiced cooperation, communication, and rescuer safety.

Because ice rescues are rare but dangerous events, regional training is crucial to winter readiness. In order to guarantee that agencies can collaborate effectively when specialized resources are required, fire service regulations place a strong emphasis on joint drills.