Just A Drill: Fairfax County Firefighters Practice Ice Rescues on Lake Audubon

Fire and Rescue squads from Reston’s Station 25 were out on Lake Audubon’s ice over the weekend. There was no one in peril; the firefighters were practicing rescue drills should someone fall through the ice.

Even though its was a 50-degree day, the ice remained frozen solid, and the squad had to use a chain saw to drill through the six-inch-thick ice.

Then the firefighters took turns donning a high-tech wetsuit and climbing into the freezing water. The suit is made of thick rubber and it seamless from boots to hood to gloves, making it warm and dry for the rescuers.

The rest of the crew worked on pulling the “victim” out of the water and to safety.

It has been a few years since the water on Reston’s lakes has seen significant freezing. Technically, skating and walking on the lakes is banned by Reston Association. Still, many residents have been seen in the last few weeks testing out the surface.