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Decked out in insulated wet and dry suits, six members of the Fairfield Fire Department carefully stepped down the rocks at the end of South Benson Marina, taking turns playing victim and rescuer in the icy currents of Ash Creek between Fairfield and Bridgeport’s Black Rock neighborhood.
Working in pairs, they practiced defensive and aggressive swimming, as well as self-rescue techniques, said Lt. Phil Higgins, who coached from the rocks above.
Another six were working on paddling and boating techniques at the other end of the marina, he said.
Though Higgins estimated the water temperature was “in the forties,” he said firefighters gain valuable expertise practicing at different times of year.
Higgins said the department does get calls about emergencies at the marina channel, Lake Mohegan and other town waterways.
“You can get caught in various flows,” he said of the channel. “The water is very strong here.”
At times that worked in the officers’ favor, as they securely grabbed victims and then floated back to shore.
“Sometimes you can use the current to your advantage,” Higgins said.
Higgins developed the program with Lt. Bill Tuttle after extensive training in Maine, Vermont and Virginia.
“By adding these technicians we’ve greatly enhanced the safety of our citizens in this waterfront community,” Tuttle said in a statement. “The fact that they gave their personal time to participate in this intensive program is another indication of their commitment to the Fairfield Fire Department and the people we protect.”
Assistant Fire Chief George Gomola, Lts. Pat Barry, Jeff Edmondson and Jay Swindon, and Firefighters Jordan Charney, Pete Krajscik, Finn MacDaniel, David Mitkwoski, Tom Rubenstein, Frank Zwierlein all participated in the class.
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