Community members in Merrill are lacing up the skates and hitting the ice.
The Merrill Fire Department has transitioned its summer pool service to the winter. Firefighters will flood a portion of the yard to create an ice block for skating.
Merrill Fire Chief Josh Klug says this service integrates the firefighters with the community while giving them more training time.
"It is a way for our members to keep training in the use of the truck, delivering the water, filling the truck," Klug said. "We're able to provide a service other than the traditional reactive service where we have to, unfortunately, come out to respond to somebody's house on fire or if a loved one is sick."
To request the fire department's assistance homeowners must fill out an application.
Klug recommends having a section of land already set up and to have someone home while firefighters fill the structure.
This service is only available to the Merrill fire departments jurisdictions; Merrill, Rock Falls and Scott.
