On March 5, three members of the Westport Volunteer Fire Department spent the day at the Westbrook Firehouse and the Wassamki Springs Campground in Scarborough. Actually, they spent most of that Saturday in Wassamki Springs Lake, and yes, it was very cold.

Firefighters Paul Arthur, Lou Babineau, and Michael Hughes were taking the Ice Rescue Technician course provided by Lifesavings Resources of Kennebunk. Most of the day was spent on or in the lake learning and practicing different rescue techniques for saving people in distress. The course is taught at a rapid pace which demands constant attention and ensures everyone in the class experiences all facets of Ice Rescue. Everyone is put in the role of person in distress, rescuer, and member of the shore support team.

This training for these firefighters was possible because of a Safety Enhancement Scholarship Grant offered by the town's insurance carrier, Maine Municipal Association. This brings the total number of firefighters in the department with this training to four. Like all training of this nature, we hope we never have to use it in a real emergency. If such and emergency does happen, it is best that we are prepared to handle it. As an officer in the department says: “Train for the worst, but hope for the best.”