The Hart Area Fire Department is happy to have received two new suits for use in ice rescue situations. Thank you to Clancy Aerts for purchasing one of the ice rescue suits. The suits are Firstwatch RS-1000 Ice Rescue suits that are made for cold water and ice rescue operations. Each suit includes a set of ice awls. These are universal fit suits that feature internal suspenders, a removable harness system, and rugged elbow and knee patches.
The new suits will be added to inventory, bringing the number of Ice Rescue suits up to 6. The Hart Area Fire Department has 6 rescue suits, 6 floatation vests, 2 rescue slings, an ice rescue sled, and several hundred feet of rope in our inventory for cold water and ice rescue operations. The Department trains annually with the US Coast Guard and the Oceana County Sheriff's Department in ice rescue operations.
The lakes within the Hart Area Fire Departments protection district include Hart Lake, Crystal Lake, Upper and Lower Silver Lakes, Lake Holiday, Gale's Pond and Wycoff lake. All these lakes have the potential for ice rescue situations. The district Includes a few miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and lots of small ponds without names.