LACONIA, N.H. (AP) -- Mark Miller would have been pleased.
His dream of a fully equipped dive team in the Laconia Fire Department took another step towards becoming a reality this week when firefighters suited up and began training for the first time as a unit.
``We have a real gung-ho group,'' said Lt. Bill Drew, following a 15 minute-plus swimming session at Laconia Athletic and Swim Club.
The goal of the firefighters is for each to become certified rescue divers so that a local team might be established.
Miller, a 17-year veteran firefighter, was the lead diver for the department and had been working toward putting together a full water-rescue team program when he died in March during a dive training accident off the docks at Weirs Beach.
Since then, a huge community effort resulted in the purchase of a fully equipped dive/rescue boat.
Most of the men already have varying levels of experience. However, this is the first time the group came together to gain the skills they will need.
This weeks plan began with a day-long session in the pool and will progress to real-life training simulation at Ahern State Park. The training will also include work on the fire department's new boat.
David Ferruolo, a dive instructor and owner of Fathom Divers of Laconia, said rescue divers must remain calm no matter what they encounter _ whether it be a struggling victim or a dead body.
``You dont know what youre going to find,'' he said.
Drew said under-the-ice diving will be his biggest challenge as it presents a whole new level of confinement and danger to the diving experience. Miller was found under the ice off the Weirs Docks.
Woods said his biggest fear is night diving.
Ferruolo, who trained with Miller, is among those who lament that it took the firefighters death to get the dive-team really moving.
However, he said the group is committed to fulfilling Millers dream.
``There is very little apprehension,'' he said.
