LAKE MARY RONAN — Area fire departments and Lake County Search and Rescue tested the freezing cold waters of Lake Mary Ronan this weekend as part of a two-day ice rescue training session.

The drill was hosted by the Rollins Volunteer Fire Department and instructed by emergency tactical rope rescue experts Sam Jaquith and Mike Schultz of Rescue Specialist. Last weekend, 30 local emergency responders took to the ice each day to hone some much needed skills in the region.

“This valley is in dire need of certified ice rescue trainers,” Rollins VFD Chief Tom Adrignola said.

The two Minnesota men who make up the company Rescue Specialist are career firefighters in Rochester and work through a program with Riverland Technical College of Austin, Minn., to provide rescue training to other departments nationwide.

“It’s extremely imperative training for emergency responders in this area as you have many lakes and outdoorsmen who enjoy recreating [on] them during winter,” Schultz said.

The specialist added the tactical rope rescue training is also used in standard water rescue, with the timing of this session being crucial as the lakes become high risk during the spring thaw.

The scene on Lake Mary Ronan Sunday was a 12x12 foot gaping hole in the ice — a product of over two dozen ice blocks that had been sawed out of the frozen lake surface earlier in the weekend. Emergency personnel went through hours of classroom training in the morning before putting that knowledge to a frigid test in the lake.

To conduct the rescue drills, firefighters and rescuers donned nylon Ice Commander rescue suits, which are completely waterproof and body heat insulated with a water tight hood, integrated gloves, and attached boots. The flotation ability and warmth of the suits’ buoyancy liner allows rescuers to immerse themselves for long periods of time in the ice water conditions while maintaining mental and physical capabilities.

Participating agencies for the training session included: Lake County Search and Rescue, Rollins VFD, Polson VFD, Ronan VFD, Finley Point-Yellow Bay VFD, Hungry Horse VFD, Chief Cliff VFD, Big Arm VFD and Somers-Lakeside VFD.

Chief Adrignola added that funding for the class was largely supported by over 30 local businesses, including the Lake Mary Ronan Lodge.