Bath Fire and Rescue Conducts Ice-Water Rescue Training at Morse High, HillHouse

Bath Fire & Rescue published community notices the week of Feb. 4, 2026, announcing planned ice-water rescue training under the bridge at the entrance to Morse High School and near HillHouse Assisted Living on Feb. 4–5. The posting included a truncated line that reads, “The department alerted residents that firefighters wo,” leaving the full resident advisory incomplete in the public notice.

Separate training activity in the region underscored a broader emphasis on cold-water and ice rescue skills. Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department hosted an ice-water rescue session in St. Clair that drew firefighters from seven departments. On-scene instruction included demonstrations of self-rescue techniques and hands-on entry into icy water for practice and conditioning.

Rescue technician and firefighter Jacob Rousch, identified with Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department, demonstrated self-rescue methods during the St. Clair session. Firefighter Alex Fantone of Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department was photographed taking a break in the icy water, and East Liverpool firefighter Shayne Hamilton practiced self-rescue drills on site. Participants described the training as notably practical and different from routine fire response work.

Several attendees offered firsthand reactions. McCune said “the training was better than he expected and a lot more hands on which is the best way for him to do training and that even though it was wet and cold, it was good.” East Liverpool’s newest and youngest firefighter, CJ Glista, called the experience “the training was awesome” and said working on ice created “a different atmosphere than what he is used to since typically firefighters deal with fire, but he was now dealing with ice.” Glista added that “everything he learned in the training is good to know and would be helpful if someone needed to be pulled from the river.” Firefighter Amanda Hoon of East Palestine Fire Department, who noted Unity Township’s many backyard ponds as a reason to attend, said “the ice water rescue training was phenomenal; she learned a lot and feels confident in her abilities to do an ice rescue.”

For Sagadahoc County residents, these drills matter because they strengthen local capacity to respond to river and pond emergencies in winter conditions. Training under the Morse High School entrance bridge and near HillHouse Assisted Living would place rescuers within reach of the Kennebec River corridor and nearby residential facilities where ice-related incidents can pose significant risk. Regional collaboration, exemplified by the multi-department St. Clair session, expands practical experience across volunteer and career crews that may be first on scene for a cold-water emergency.

The community notice from Bath Fire & Rescue supplied dates and locations but left some details incomplete; officials did not publish start and end times or the full wording of the resident alert in the posting. Residents near Morse High School and HillHouse who have questions about safety measures or potential neighborhood impacts should contact Bath Fire & Rescue for guidance. Continued multi-agency training this winter will shape how crews handle river rescues and influence local emergency planning in the months ahead.