In January, three young brothers aged 6-9 tragically drowned after falling through the ice on a pond near Bonham, Texas.

It’s not the first time people have died this way and it unfortunately won’t be the last, but many local fire departments train every year on how to save someone who has fallen through the ice and can’t get out.

In February, the Northville Township Fire Department held a water and ice rescue training course in the Highland Lakes neighborhood that focused on ice rescue operations as part of the department’s Probationary Firefighter Training Program. And because thawing will have begun, demand for these dangerous rescues is highest in the spring.

“Ice rescue incidents are low-frequency but high-risk events that require specialized skills,” said Northville Deputy Fire Chief Jesse Marcotte. “Ice rescue incidents are among the most dangerous scenarios firefighters face. Cold water shock, rapidly deteriorating ice, limited visibility, and extreme physical stress create an unforgiving operating environment.”

Marcotte said the training ensures firefighters can make quick decisions, deploy resources efficiently and operate as a coordinated team while minimizing risk.

“Just as importantly, it helps prevent situations where well-intentioned rescuers or bystanders become additional victims, which is a common trend in ice-related emergencies,” he said.

Three newly hired Northville Township firefighters successfully completed this training as part of their probationary requirements, and several Northville City firefighters participated to reinforce regional interoperability and shared operational practices.

Crews trained on recognizing unsafe ice conditions, deploying specialized rescue equipment, performing victim rescues, and patient treatment. The training also emphasized self-rescue techniques, crew coordination and communications to ensure firefighter safety and effectiveness in a rapidly changing/unstable environment.

There is significantly more water in Northville Township and the surrounding area than many people realize. There are more than 130 identified bodies of water within Northville Township alone, and these include lakes, private property ponds, retention basins, rivers, creeks, and golf course water hazards.

Of these 130 bodies of water, 21 have been identified as higher-risk locations that benefit from detailed pre-planning due to distance and access limitations. These locations are assigned specific Quick Reference Identifiers (QRIs) within the department’s pre-plan system, allowing responding crews to quickly identify access points, hazards and deployment considerations while en route to an incident.

“Many of these bodies of water freeze unevenly, particularly near moving water, inlets, outlets, vegetation, and bridges,” Marcotte said. “Ice that appears solid in one area can be dangerously thin just a short distance away.”

The department frequently encounters near-miss incidents where individuals fall through the ice but manage to self-rescue or are assisted by bystanders prior to their arrival. Nationally and locally, these incidents often escalate when untrained rescuers attempt to help, underscoring the importance of early 911 notification and professional response.

“Many people are not aware that our department is trained and equipped to provide surface water rescue and ice rescue,” Marcotte said. “Attempted rescues by untrained individuals often lead to additional victims. Trained firefighters equipped with specialized gear are best prepared to handle these dangerous conditions safely.”