RICHMOND

With milder-than normal temperatures, pervasive fog and thin mist to greet them Sunday, Richmond and Litchfield firefighters started the day with cold-water and ice rescue training on Pleasant Pond.

Firefighters zipped tightly into black or red cold-water suits were designated “victim” or “rescuer” as they took turns in the exercise conducted from a small bridge along Thorofare Road.

Tyler Tripp — who has been with Litchfield Fire Department for three years — was the first firefighter in the water Sunday after breaking through an area of thin ice.

“Training is the biggest thing in any fire department,” Tripp said. “The more you train, the better you get. Anytime you get into the ice or anything like that, you never know if it’s safe or where you’re going to end up.

“It’s always a challenge,” he said. “Anything could happen at any moment.”

Glenn DeWitt, the administrator for Richmond Fire Department, said: “Bad conditions are good conditions for training.”

dmoore@timesrecord.com