Marmora firefighters demonstrate new equipment

By Liam Kavanagh-Bradette

MARMORA, Ont. (04/02/2012) -- Marmora firefighters pull a comrade from icy water during a training excersise and public demonstration of their new Rapid Deployment Craft. There RDC will help them rescue people who have fallen through the ice in the late fall through the spring. (Liam Kavanagh-Bradette)

Saturday morning the Crowe River was near freezing, chunks of ice clung to the banks and the water was moving fast.

The Marmora and Lake volunteer firefighters, some dressed in bright yellow rescue suits, others in older red models, demonstrated their training as well as their newest piece of equipment in a training exercise on the river.

The rapid deployment craft, a yellow 15 foot inflatable raft crossed with a canoe. The RDC floats on water and glides over ice. It inflates in a minute, can be towed by a boat, ATV or snowmobile and can support over 2,000 pounds.

It was being shown in use during Snowfest, Marmora’s annual winter carnival.

The firefighters got their training to perform ice rescues last year “So far we’ve rescued a few people, a dog and a duck,” said Capt. Scott Broadbent.

The nearly $4,500 needed for the RDC came from money raised through ticket sales from last summer’s Classic Cruisers.

“During the summer, we have boats but it’s in the late fall through early spring that things can get difficult,” said Broadbent. “Even if there’s no ice, the cold water can be very dangerous over just a short period of time.”