JOHNSTON, Iowa — You can't help but notice the melting snow on streets and yards because of the recent warming temperatures.
However, it can be difficult to know if ice on ponds and lakes is thick enough to safely walk, sled and ice fish on.
The Iowa DNR says 4 inches is needed to safely walk on a body of water covered in ice, and Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire District Capt. Tristan Johnson agrees.
On Friday, Johnson and other Johnston-Grimes firefighters performed ice rescue trainings on Terra Lake to prepare for the threat of a call when a person or animal may fall through that thin ice.
"People tend to venture out on ice," Johnson explained. "We need to make sure that our responders are ready, because anybody can fall through the ice at any time, and we need to make sure we're ready to get them out if that happens."
Johnson himself has responded to ice rescues during his 14-year career with the fire district. He believes these trainings will help his team prepare for anything.
During the ice rescue training, the fire district created a large hole in the lake and blocked it off with cones and tape as a safety precaution to residents who walk around Terra Lake.
Firefighters then scooched across the ice on their bellies and entered the water, before a sled or floaty reeled them back in.
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In the event of an actual ice rescue, a firefighter secures a person or animal who needs rescuing, and straps them into the floaty, or gets them on the sled before the other firefighters pull them into shore and safety.
Johnson told Local 5 they perform ice rescue training annually, and said he looks forward to them because "it's a really fun training."