This time of year, thin ice is a major concern for rescue crews across the state.
On Monday, St. Paul fire took to the icy waters of Como Lake to conduct training sessions in a partnership with Century College.
"These are the ice conditions we're going to encounter during an actual rescue," said Captain Edward Nelson, with the St. Paul Fire Department. In fact, their training paid off at the perfect time last week when there was an actual rescue on neighboring Lake McCarrons.
"We got dispatched to a man in the water," said Thomas Hilpisch, with the St. Paul Fire Department.
Zach Boemer, Thomas Hilpisch, and Doug Johnson from the St. Paul Fire Department were all on the call helping a cross-country skier to safety after falling through the ice.
"We saw the man clinging onto the ice," Hilpisch said.