VIDEO: Firefighters need to train for any possibility, never knowing when a life might depend upon it.
Ice rescue training involves firefighters rescuing each other in freezing or near-freezing temperatures, which teaches them how to save lives and save themselves.
"It's a skill that we don't do very often, and the public expects us to be on the top of our game when we get called, so the training helps us be ready for that," said Lieutenant Chris Letourneau of the Belvidere Fire Department.
Every second counts in an ice rescue. First responders must learn how to keep themselves out of risk, which they say is solid advice for anyone who goes out on the ice for a hobby, like winter fishing.
"Make sure that you bring ice picks with you, so that if you do fall in the water, you can rescue yourself," Letourneau said.