Firefighters practice for water rescues in Fox River

The combination of cold water and cold weather didn't deter the Elgin Fire Department from performing swift water training Tuesday in the Fox River.

With Walton Island as the backdrop, Lt. Bill Nangle explained the nuances of water safety and how to deploy a "throw bag" to a potential drowning victim.

"This is an opportunity for all of our crews to practice on live victims in the river floating downstream," Nangle said. "It's something that we don't normally get a chance to do."

Throw bags are carried by the fire department on all their rigs and contain 50 to 75 feet of floating rope.