At about 5:30 PM on January 1st TTFD was dispatched to the West Q Avenue side of Crooked Lake for a caller who reported hearing a snowmobiler go through the ice and did not see anyone leave the scene. It was assumed that the driver was still in the water. Fortunately a fire fighter was at the typically unstaffed station (due to the 1st being a holiday) and was able to immediately respond Rescue 1151. Emergency Management 1109 and the Ice/Water rescue trailer were also responded. Automatic Aid was requested from Oshtemo and Portage Fire Departments as well as the Kalamazoo County Dive Team.
Once crews arrived on scene and adequate personnel were suited and tending rescue lines the first rescuer entered the ice. There was some difficulty in finding the exact location of the snowmobiler however while on the ice a neighbor advised that the person had already removed themselves from the area. Fire fighters located the person and checked for injuries, finding none. All units on scene were released and returned to service in about 30 minutes.
Ice rescues are an extremely personnel intensive task and several critical positions have to be established before fire fighters can enter the ice or water. Each fire fighter entering the hazardous area (ice or water) must have a dry suit (mustang ice rescue suit), be tethered to a “bomb proof” anchor and have at minimum two on shore line tenders equipped with personnel flotation devices. For each rescuer entering the hazard area there must be an additional rescuer on shore as a backup with the same equipment and personnel assigned specifically to them. For this reason multiple agencies are called and the amount of time it takes to enter the hazard area can very depending on response times and automatic aid department's availability, which can be delayed if they are on other emergencies. Rescue 1151 carries two ice rescue suits, an assortment of personnel flotation devises and about 700 feet of specialized rope used specifically for water rescues. TTFD also has an utility trailer which contains 5 additional rescue suits, over 2000 feet of additional water rescue rope, 12 foot inflatable Zodiac rescue boat with a 30 horse power jet style outboard motor. It also carries miscellaneous other water rescue equipment and personnel flotation devises.
Photo of 1107 (Ice and Water Rescue Trailer) and equipment