[Press Release] : Columbia Fire Department to Conduct Highly Visible Ice Water Rescue Training - This is a Training Exercise Only

[Press Releases]

Contact: Captain Eric Hartman
573-499-7035 - Duty PIOPager (24 hours)
573-874-7644 Office (M-F, 8-5)
 
 
ColumbiaFire Fighters Take Advantage of Cold Snap
to Practice Ice Water Rescue Skills
 
Columbia Fire Fighters will be practicing their ice water rescue skills
this week while there is adequate ice on local lakes and ponds. 
 
On Wednesday, January 13, 2010through Friday, January 15, 2010,
Columbia Fire Fighters will be seen at the lake on the Bass Pro property
on Bass Pro Drive. Training is scheduled to occur on all three days with
two sessions each day, one beginning at 8:00 amand the second beginning
at 1:30 PM. 
 
The public will see several fire trucks and fire fighters on the ice
for a couple of hours during each session. This is only a training
session. 
 
The Columbia Fire Department responds to an average of 10 ice water
rescue calls each winter, the majority involving animals that have
wondered onto the ice and fallen through. This is a good time to remind
our customers that while conditions are adequate for ice skating at
Stephens Lake and ice fishing at Cosmo-Bethel Park, forecasted
temperatures in the 40’s and sunshine for the next 7 days will begin to
melt the ice and likely will cause dangerous ice conditions in the near
future. 
 
The Columbia Fire Department encourages people who wish to take
advantage of winter recreation activities to do so only in approved
areas which have been professionally checked and approved. 
 
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