Maple Grove Firefighters Put Water Rescue Skills to the Test

Maple Grove firefighters are getting some hands-on experience this week in water rescues.

Firefighters from stations 4 and 5 headed to Rice Lake on Wednesday to test their skills.

The city typically has one to three water rescues each season. The training exercises force firefighters to prepare for the unexpected. 

“We might have something at one of the recreational lakes, or we could have a water rescue in someone’s back yard with a pond,” said Rob Pearson, assistant fire chief with the Maple Grove Fire Department.

Maple Grove firefighters practice water rescue drills on Rice Lake

Maple Grove crews brought out two watercraft, a rescue boat and an inflatable zodiac boat, which can launch from anywhere. Firefighters put simulated victims in the water and practiced trying to locate and rescue them.

Pearson said there at least three to four different tasks are happening at the same time.  The training also allows everyone a chance to participate in various roles. Firefighters say it’s crucial to reducing errors and saving lives.

“The more training you have, the more repetitions you can do, the more mission-ready you are when we’re called upon,” said Pearson.

Also See: Maple Grove Firefighters Resume Training with Rare Opportunity

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