VIDEO: When first responders get word of an emergency, time is of the essence. It's especially true for Metro-area water and dive rescue teams.
That is why several agencies teamed up to sharpen their skills, should the call for help come in complete darkness.
From the classroom to Flanagan Lake, instructor Akeem Banister with the Bennington Fire Department made sure all 42 first responders involved in the exercise covered the basics.
"We did a quick swim assessment -- front swim, side swim, back swim, then we transitioned over to going to the boat," he said.
Banister normally trains divers for Bennington Fire.
Saturday night, colleagues from Yutan Fire Dive team, Waterloo Fire, Boys Town Fire and Fort Calhoun Fire departments either steered the LED-equipped boats, or dove in to hone their night-time training.