CHIPPEWA COUNTY — First responders in Chippewa County trained on the sheriff’s office hovercraft on the icy St. Marys River this afternoon to prepare for emergencies on Sugar Island as ice has repeatedly interrupted ferry service this winter.
Members of the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, Sugar Island Fire Department and Sault City Fire and EMS rode on the hovercraft to and from Sugar Island during the exercise.
The massive ice buildup in the river has suspended ferry service to and from Sugar Island on several occasions this winter, including the past couple of days.
“It’s kind of like riding a bike but you want to stay fluent with that,” Capt. Justin Fruchey of the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office said. “It may take an extra ten to fifteen minutes to remember what switches you have to turn on and how everything functions. That is why we are out here today to make sure we are not under a lot of stress and we can work through any of those mechanical issues or errors.”
Ice is up to two-feet thick and with no place for it to go downriver, ferry service is expected to be interrupted.