Watchung Volunteer Fire Department Ice Rescue Training Drill

Watchung New Jersey 

The frozen Watchung Lake was the scene of a joint winter training drill Sunday January 19, 2014.

For the Watchung Volunteer Fire Department and the South Plainfield Volunteer Fire Departments, it was the training ground to prepare for a potentially life-or-death scenario. Against the backdrop of fun under the sun and on top of the ice, the fire department braved the bitter wind, lugged axes and chainsaws onto Watchung Lake’s frozen surface and chopped through thick ice, before rolling out a rescue sled, donning wetsuits and plunging into the frigid water.

It was all part of ice rescue training, that began with classroom sessions on both Saturday and Sunday before heading out onto the lake.

On Sunday the nine-man team, under the command of Assistant Chief Martino, pounded its way through the ice, before each took a turn going in to the water to simulate a rescue.

 "It’s really important for everyone to stay ready and remain acclimated with each of the bodies of water in town, because they each present a different set of obstacles and variables," said Carlucci.

 Some of Watchung’s watering holes are Watchung Lake and Best Lake, along with numerous small ponds and streams that dot the Borough.

 According to Chief Carlucci, physical exhaustion is a much bigger factor for firefighters than the temperature of the water.

 "You don’t even feel the cold because of the suit," he said, while a member appearing comfortable sitting inside the hole, his body submerged from the shoulders down." I trust everyone in this team with my life, that’s what comes from training like this with everyone," he added.

 After more than an hour on the ice, with each team member going for a dip, the fire department packed up their gear .After that, they loaded back into their trucks and returned to the station, for some much needed rest and hot chocolate.

 The Watchung Volunteer Fire Department continues to provide its community not only Fire Protection but several Special Services, twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year. The specialized services are “Vehicle Extrication” or Jaws of Life at automobile crashes, as well as a dozen members who have been trained or presently training, as Emergency Medical Technicians. These EMT’s stabilize patients until local ambulance services arrive to transport the victims, but are also available to help Firefighter’s who may experience a problem at an incident

 "You will see us every year out here”, Watchung Volunteer Fire Chief Fire Tom Carlucci said as long as we continue to have the continued support for this type of training as well as other Special Services Training from the Watchung Mayor Pote and Council members.

 If you are interested in Volunteering please call 908-756-6288