ASHLAND – Members of the Ashland Fire Department can walk on water and skim over dangerously thin ice, all thanks to some new rescue equipment.

The newly purchased Rescue Alive apparatus gives rescue personnel an extra edge in recovering victims who have fallen into frigid water or have gone through ice-covered lakes or ponds.

“This changes the whole game,” Ashland firefighter Mark Howes said after the equipment was unveiled and tested last week. “If something happens, we are much better able to handle it now.”

The apparatus resembles a large walker built on two pontoons. A rescuer is able to stand between the pontoons and walk on ice as thin as 1/2 inch. “It works just like a walker,” Ashland Fire Chief Ned LaBelle said. “You slide it ahead bit by bit and shuffle your feet ahead.”

If the ice gives way to open water, the operator simply remains on the equipment and engages the paddle to keep moving forward.

Rescuers, once they reach the victim, are able to pull that individual out of the water and secure them to the equipment using attached ropes and cables.

Members of the Ashland and Portage fire departments received training on the equipment last week at Portage Lake and, after taking it out for a test run, Howes said it would greatly increase rescue capabilities.

“To creep out [on thin ice] in a cold-water suit is risky enough,” he said. “Now if we have to go out, it will be a whole lot less risky.”

At the same time, the firefighter said getting accustomed to moving over open water will take a bit of getting used to. “It really felt kind of weird to be going along and suddenly be on the water,” he said.

Ashland will maintain and own the equipment, but it will be shared between the two departments.

Before the $3,000 piece of equipment was purchased, rescue personnel relied on cold-water suits and careful navigation over the ice to get to a victim.

“Without this new equipment, we needed a good inch to an inch and a half of ice to walk on, and that’s without pulling on someone,” LaBelle said. “When you start talking about pulling a person out of the water and on to the ice, you need at least two inches.”

To be completely safe, LaBelle stressed, ice should be at least 6 inches thick before attempting to walk on it.

“Now, with quite minimal effort we can get to someone over very thin ice,” he said.

Time, Howes said, is an important factor in cold-water rescue when hypothermia – the cooling of the body’s core temperature – can set in minutes. “This can be a killer,” he said.

Rescue Alive equipment enables personnel to reach victims faster.

Northern Maine rescue personnel are all too familiar with the hazards of winter recreation and travel. Lake ice can suddenly turn into open water depending on currents and weather conditions and LaBelle said an enjoyable outing can become a tragedy in a matter of minutes.

“If you’re going to be out on the ice, take your time and be careful,” he said. “Never go alone and never go on ice that has not been checked first.”

Maine Municipal Association, the Ashland Snowmobile Club and the Ashland Rotary Club jointly provided $4,500 to purchase the apparatus and two cold-water suits and to fund the training.

It’s a worthy expense LaBelle hopes is never needed.

“You don’t mind spending the money on this equipment, but we’d be happy never to have to use it,” he said. “But if people need help, this is the gear to have.”