Firefighters practice ice rescues

ARLINGTON — A man flailed his arms and shouted “Help me! Help me!” from the middle of a frozen pond near Arlington on Tuesday.

Woodinville firefighter Greg Garat was in the chilly water as part of an ice-rescue training program for 20 firefighters from around the region.

A pair of firefighters scurried across the ice to pluck Garat out of the frozen pond.

Using a rope, rescuers on the shore pulled the men to safety.

Garat said practicing in the subfreezing water was cold despite wearing protective gear.

“I can only imagine if it was your whole body and you didn’t have a wetsuit on,” he said.

Stuck in the frozen water without proper gear would “be a very disheartening place to be,” he said.

Subfreezing temperatures have created a thin layer of ice on many Snohomish County ponds and lakes.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

It’s a dangerous temptation, officials said. The partially frozen ponds can be fatal.

Last year a 15-year-old boy died when he fell into Martha Lake.

That’s why area firefighters participate in special training to learn to safely pull people from the frozen waters.

In the early ’90s, Snohomish County Fire District 1 crews realized the danger from ice was high and that they were unprepared to launch an adequate rescue response, said Gary Westerman, a member of District 1’s rescue squad.

“We had no capability to get people out,” he said.

Westerman and District 1 Capt. Andy Speier went to Calgary in Canada to learn special ice-rescue techniques.

Since then, they’ve led training programs at least once a year.

On Tuesday, crews from Arlington Heights, Lake Stevens, Shoreline, Woodinville and Maple Valley joined Fire District 1 to jump in the frozen waters and pull each other out.

For some, the day was a refresher course; for others, it was their first time on the ice.

“There’s no substitute for training in the actual conditions,” Speier said.

On Monday, the class practiced sliding prone across the frozen surface of the Lynnwood Ice Center. Tuesday, they took to the frozen pond to simulate rescue conditions.

“No one is excited about being out in the rain and snow, but this is what it’s really like,” said Speier, who was the team leader the night the boy fell into Martha Lake a year ago.

The goal is to be prepared and ready to reach someone in trouble within about 10 minutes, Westerman said.

After that, hypothermia can set in and people lose the ability to grab a rope or stay afloat, he said.

Once a person dips below the waters, “the odds of getting them up in time is bad,” Fire District 1 firefighter John Giddings said.

The best bet is to stay off the ice, he said.

“Always assume that if you go on the ice, you’re going to break through,” Westerman said.

Once you fall in, it’s virtually impossible to get out by yourself, he said.

Once submerged, firefighters used picklike ice awls to grip the ice and flippers to help lift them out of the water.

From the shore it’s impossible to judge the strength of the ice, Speier said.

People will sometimes try to test the ice next to the shore, he said. They wrongly assume strong ice at the edge means thick ice in the middle of the lake, and believe the water near the shore is shallow.

On Tuesday, Speier needed a chain saw to cut a hole in the middle of the ice, but the surface near the shore gave way under his weight. Water near the shore was about 5 feet deep.

If someone sees someone else fall in, “do whatever you can from the shore,” Speier said.

Don’t go out after them. Instead, call 911.

“We don’t want to throw one body after another,” Westerman said.

Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Aaron Weinstock uses an x-ray machine toy inside the Imagine Children Museum on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Imagine Children’s Museum $250k grant reinstated following federal court order

The federal grant supports a program that brings free science lessons to children throughout rural Snohomish County.

Snohomish County 911 Executive Director Kurt Mills talks about the improvements made in the new call center space during a tour of the building on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New 911 center in Everett built to survive disaster

The $67.5 million facility brings all emergency staff under one roof with seismic upgrades, wellness features and space to expand.

Everett
Five arrested in connection with Everett toddler’s 2024 overdose death

More than a year after 13-month-old died, Everett police make arrests in overdose case.

Madison Family Shelter Family Support Specialist Dan Blizard talks about one of the pallet homes on Monday, May 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Madison Family Shelter reopens after hiatus

The Pallet shelter village, formerly Faith Family Village, provides housing for up to eight families for 90 days.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

Everett
Man stabbed in face outside Everett IHOP, may lose eye

Police say the suspect fled in the victim’s car, leading officers on a 6-mile chase before his arrest.

People swim in the Yost Pool during Open Fitness and Lap Swim on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Feeling the heat in Snohomish County: How hot will it get where you live?

Everett is expected to hit low 80s with inland areas reaching near 90.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Pat Cronin and Jamie Lyon look over a zoning district map draft of Everett on display during an Everett Planning Department open house at Everett Station on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett to release final draft of comp plan

The city will release the draft of the planning document on May 30, staff said. It will likely go to a vote before the council in June.

Traffic moves across the US 2 trestle between Everett and Lake Stevens on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Washington climate goals jeopardized by U.S. Senate vote

The U.S. Senate revoked waivers allowing Washington to mandate strict vehicle emission standards

The Everett City Council on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett City Council approves apprenticeship ordinance

The new ordinance builds upon state law, requiring many city public works contracts to use at least 15% apprentice labor.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.