SUGAR ISLAND — Firefighters from several Eastern Upper Peninsula departments trained in ice rescue over the weekend in the icy waters of the St. Marys River off Sugar Island as wind chills fell to near zero at times.
Members from Sugar Island, Drummond Island, Dafter, Superior, Bruce, Soo and Pickford townships, along with Sault City Fire and the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, took part in the training.
Sugar Island Fire Capt. Dave Pine said the event began with his department about 12 years ago when he was fire chief and has grown each year, especially as younger firefighters have become more involved. Pine said they hold two to three ice rescue trainings like the event each year.
“It’s nice to see these young kids come out and train with us and stuff,” Pine said. “I know some of them said in their younger days they thought they wouldn’t be doing this. Now they are out doing this. Once they have done it and stuff, they kind of get use to it and it’s kind of nice.”
Before going onto the ice, firefighters spent Saturday and Sunday morning in a room-temperature classroom at the Sugar Island Community Center.