After stabilizing a vehicle in an ice rescue, which tool is used to remove ice around the vehicle?

• A. Chainsaw
• B. Ax
• C. Hammer
• D. Jigsaw

Answer: (A)

In ice rescue, once the vehicle is stabilized you need to create access by removing the surrounding ice so rescuers can reach the vehicle and deploy lines or equipment. Ice can be thick and solid, so you want a tool that can cut through it quickly and cleanly. A chainsaw is suited for this because its powerful cut through ice and slush allows you to form a perimeter around the vehicle or create an opening efficiently, which speeds up the extraction and reduces the risk of further movement of the vehicle.

An axe would be too slow for thick ice and would require many blows to make a usable opening, increasing the time and effort needed and risking uncontrolled ice fragments. A hammer isn’t effective for removing large amounts of ice; it’s only useful for chipping small, loose pieces. A jigsaw is not appropriate for ice work—it's designed for wood or metal and lacks the power and blade design needed to cut through ice quickly. So the chainsaw is the best tool for removing ice around the vehicle after stabilization.