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Published December 17, 2012, 01:43 PM

Firefighters train for cold water rescue in icy St. Louis River

Earlier this month, Cloquet Area Fire District personnel practiced water rescues using just ropes and a lifebelt as well as a rapid deployment craft, a lifeboat-like inflatable boat which is specially made for ice rescues.

By: Jana Peterson, Pine Journal

  • Icy rescue
    • image
    CAFD Chief Kevin Schroeder signals he is ready for fellow firefighters to pull the rope and bring him and the person he is "rescuing" in to the shore. Jana Peterson/jpeterson@pinejournal.com

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Proper dress is important, especially if you’re a firefighter.

At first glance, it looked like there was a herd of Teletubbies – and one Gumby – on the loose in Cloquet’s Spafford Park. However, the colorful outfits served to keep Cloquet Area Fire District personnel warm and dry during their annual cold water rescue training Wednesday, Dec. 5.

“I’ve been in there 20 minutes and I’m warmer than I’d be in a down coat,” said CAFD Chief Kevin Schroeder (who is playing the role of rescuer in the series of four pictures on the left side of this page) after climbing out of the water.

Firefighters practiced water rescues using just ropes and a lifebelt as well as a rapid deployment craft, a lifeboat-like inflatable boat which is specially made for ice rescues.

Training and Safety Division Chief Ken Klatt said 26 CAFD personnel were certified as rescue technicians after eight hours of training Cec. 5.

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