Members of the Nitro Fire Department conduct rescue training exercises at Ridenour Lake on January 14th. (Courtesy photo)
The cold weather which settled in during the first week of January has caused Nitro’s Ridenour Lake to freeze over. The ice-covering presented the Nitro Fire Department an opportunity to conduct icy water rescue training at the lake on Tuesday, January 14.
Public Information Officer Joe Stevens reports that icy water rescue is part of the training regimen and all 20 members of the department have satisfied the requirement.
The Nitro Fire Department has long recognized the need to be ready to respond to emergencies at the lake. Ridenour Lake is regularly stocked with trout by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources. When frozen over, ice fishing is allowed, providing all persons, walking or fishing on ice, use safety ropes tied around them and attached to anchors on the shore. Safety ropes, alone, do not prevent emergencies.
Stevens said that NFD has provided and will continue to provide icy water rescue training at the lake to other fire departments. Tyler Mountain, St. Albans and Institute departments have participated in icy water rescue training with NFD.