Golden’s Bridge firefighters sharpen ice rescue skills

GOLDENS BRIDGE, N.Y. - With Golden’s Bridge hamlet home to part of the Muscoot Reservoir system and many ponds and lakes, members of the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department, on a recent night, braved frigid temperatures and biting winds to sharpen their ice-rescue skills in a series of training drills on Timber Lake, situated between Lake St. and Main St. in the Colony off Rt. 138. 

 The firetruck flood lights illuminating the night sky and the lake’s frozen surface made it appear that a dramatic ice rescue was underway. That’s because the drills simulated conditions in which Golden’s Bridge firefighters would find themselves when responding to an emergency ice-rescue.

 Firefighters wearing state-of-the-art immersion/rescue suits (which protect against hypothermia and exposure to cold water) could be seen making their way across the frozen lake on their hands and knees, a technique used to evenly distribute their weight. Their destination was an opening in the surface, where “victims” had fallen through the ice and into the frigid waters. Firefighters rotated between being the rescuers and the rescued.

 During the training drills, rescue teams and crews stationed on the shoreline worked with 250-foot rope reels, safety rope harnesses, ice-gliding sled devices, and other tools and life-saving equipment, such as flotation rings, to rescue the victims from the icy waters. They also honed their skills with pike poles, commonly used if a distressed person is capable of reaching out and grasping the device so firefighters can pull them safely to the shore. In addition, Golden’s Bridge firefighters trained in the use of throw-bags – canvas bags containing 90 feet of buoyant rope that unravels when tossed to the victim.   

“We create as realistic a scenario as possible so that firefighters are prepared for a real-life emergency – and we operate in the most challenging conditions and environments, at nighttime with whipping winds and freezing temperatures. Just as we train for structure and brush fires, vehicle extrication, medical and other emergency response, we train for ice and water emergencies with gear, equipment and various rescue techniques in preparation of potential realities,” explained Golden’s Bridge Fire Chief Albert Melillo, who added, “It doesn’t take long for hypothermia to set in, so we have to work fast and efficiently.” 

 At the conclusion of the training drills, the slab of ice was placed back over the cutout hole so it could re-freeze. An orange safety cone also marked the spot, according to Melillo, who said that Golden’s Bridge firefighters have put this annual training exercise into action with much success during their response to ice and water rescue emergencies over the past several years. 

 Although Golden’s Bridge firefighters have not had to respond to an emergency ice rescue thus far in 2025 (“thankfully,” says Melillo), there were – and still are – concerns this winter that stem from last year’s end-of-summer drought that extended through the fall.  

"With water levels lower than usual because of the drought that preceded the winter season, it’s easy to misjudge the thickness of the frozen surface and depth of the water beneath. Since shorelines have expanded further out, those who ice fish on the reservoir, for example, may not realize they are walking over an area with the deepest waters – which means the ice surface could be at its thinnest point,” explained Melillo, adding, “The surface of deep water takes longer to reach its freezing point than shallow water because deep water holds more heat.” 

Although ponds and other non-running waters ice over more quickly, it doesn’t always mean they are safe for ice fishing, ice skating, and other activities, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which warns that surfaces don’t freeze uniformly, making thickness uneven. Ice could also be thin and weak where feeder streams enter and exit ponds and lakes.

To help prevent ice-related recreational activities from becoming emergencies, the Golden’s Bridge Fire Chief offered some sound advice:

• Familiarize yourself with safety guidelines, such as the minimum thickness considered safe for ice fishing, ice skating and other on-foot activity, as well as what to bring with you and what to do in case of an emergency; these guidelines are offered on the websites of various government agencies, such as the DEC and New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

• Never step onto a frozen surface without knowing its thickness, or without being certain that it meets safety guidelines; follow posted warning signs at, for example, the Lewisboro Town Park that say “No Ice Skating.”

• Never go ice fishing or ice skating alone; go with a group of people so someone can call 911 in an emergency.

• Wear a whistle or pocket air horn around your neck in case there is no cell service so that anyone nearby could hear your distress signal.

• Wear a life jacket; if you fall into the water, the life jacket should keep you at the surface and could provide some insulation until help arrives. 

• Carry a set of ice picks and rope, which could help you survive – and possibly help in self-rescue – until first-responders arrive.

• Keep your pet on a leash – and if your pet falls through the ice, call 911 rather than attempt a rescue and risk falling into the icy waters yourself.