The temperature was below freezing on Sunday when the Holliston Dive Team took to Weston Pond to practice its rescue procedures.
Firefighters on the Holliston team are Alan Elliot, John Gagnon, Mike Gulla, Bob Guyon, Pete Hill, Brian Kramer, Angela Lawless, Charlie Roberts (team leader), and Richard Rossini.
Holliston created a water rescue team more than 20 years ago.
"A guy fell through the ice in Hopkinton on a four-wheeler and there was nobody around to do diver recovery, they had to wait for the State Police," said Rossini at Sunday's practice. The Hopkinton man did not survive.
Shortly after that, a Milford firefighter Jay DiAntonio, gathered together firefighters from Holliston, Hopkinton and Milford and got them certified, said Rossini.
Since that time, Holliston has maintained the program and has continued to supplement its equipment. Today, the department has gear for four divers, three sleds (which can go on water or ice), and a water rescue boat that can be used as a dive platform if need be.
Rossini said the team has been called on for mutual aid in other towns -- Ashland, Auburn, Blackstone, Hopkinton, Milford -- but have only had to use the equipment once in Holliston. That call turned out to be a false alarm.
"The sad part is it's usually not rescue, it's usually recovery," said Rossini.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.