Mutual Aid Ice Rescue Drill a Success


A simulated ice rescue drill was done today by the the Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Department in cooperation with both the Dresden and Whitehall Volunteer Fire Departments. (Click image to see full-scale.)

Today, Sunday February 16th, with temperatures around 10 degrees, the Huletts Landing Volunteer Fire Department in cooperation with both the Dresden and Whitehall Volunteer Fire Departments, held a mutual aid ice rescue drill at the Huletts Island View Marina on Lake George.

The drill was coordinated by Jay VanderPlaat, Huletts Landing Fire Chief, and the training was done by Brian Brooks, Whitehall Fire Chief. There were 28 men present with 10 coming from Huletts.

The wind was fierce and the air was bitter cold but, but all the volunteers gave it their all and the training was a huge success. They were flanked by a good many spectators who braved the cold to watch the event.

The Women’s Auxiliary provided the firefighters with a hot lasagna meal back at the Huletts firehouse at the conclusion.

Below are pictures from today’s training. (Click all images to see full-scale.)


Whitehall’s ice rescue boat was used on Lake George.


Brian Brooks, Whitehall Fire Chief, (in black hat) conducted the training.


Huletts, Dresden and Whitehall Volunteers in front of the Huletts Island View Marina.


Huletts Volunteer Fireman, Terry Storms, was the simulated “man in the water.”


Great caution was taken to make the drill realistic but also safe for the volunteers involved.


The weather was brutally cold.


Coordination was done by the volunteers on the ice and on the land.


All-in-all, it was a day in the history of Huletts Landing.

Many thanks go out to Fire Chiefs, VanderPlaat and Brooks, for coordinating this training as well as all the volunteers who made the day a success.