White Plains firefighters ventured into Silver Lake on Tuesday as part of the department's Ice and Water Rescue training, funded by a nearly $1 million grant from the federal government.

The department was awarded a more than $900,000 "Assistance to Firefighters" grant from FEMA. The grant is going toward more than eight training courses for different scenarios firefighters may face, including structural collapses and water rescues. "Having this funding allows us to be at the top of our game, to have 24 rescuers are trained in all of these disciplines who will all go through the same training and without the grant, we would not be able to do that," said White Plains Deputy Fire Chief William Simons. As part of the ice and cold water rescue training, the department sawed around four holes into 14 inches of ice to reach the water underneath. They then rotated in and out of water through various training lessons so everyone had a chance to be both the rescuer and victim. Participants learned boat rescues, reaching rescues and more. "Traditionally, we haven't been receiving this type of training and its phenomenal that the city was able to get a grant to build on what we've been doing," said Lt. Thomas Glass. Chiefs Simons says that the department has not had to perform any ice or cold water rescues in the last 10 years, but that it is good to be prepared. "...Some people don't know how to swim, they panic, they exert themselves, they use up their energy trying to get out of a hole they're unable to get out of. so, what that can do is significantly decrease their chance for survival," he said. He added that the same services apply for any pet or wildlife in need of water rescue.