HAUSER, Idaho -- Warmer temperatures come with a warning in North Idaho to be extra careful on ice covered lakes and rivers. And as the risk increases, one group of rescuers are prepared to jump into action.

As fog lifted off Hauser Lake Saturday morning, 25 emergency responders practiced and trained for an ice rescue scenario. 

"It's going to be fun, a good learning experience," said Jason Bisaro, a volunteer firefighter from Shoshone County. 

The ice at Hauser Lake was six inches deep on Saturday,  last year at this time the ice was 18-inches thick.

"And as it keeps getting warmer and warmer in the afternoon, it's going to be getting worse and worse," said Sgt. Andy Boyle with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department. 

Boyle is an ice rescue instructor, he spent Saturday teaching responders how to get in the water safely, travel across the ice, and reach a victim - all within a matter of minutes. 

"So the quicker we can get them out of that water and into a warm environment, the better their recovery rate is going to be," said Boyle. 

Saturday's class spent the first part of the day rescuing each other out of a hole cut in the ice. 

Fortunately, nobody has had to be rescued from the ice in Kootenai County this winter. But, as the ice gets thinner and temperatures warm up, many fear that could change. 

Boyle encourages ice fisherman and anyone out on a frozen lake or river to wear a life jacket and carry ice picks, two pieces of essential equipment that could help you escape the frozen waters.