Despite this winter's chilly temperatures and frozen lakes and ponds, West Metro Fire Rescue continues to prepare to rescue people and animals that fall through the ice.
About 40 firefighters practiced ice-water rescues on Feb. 1 on Bear Creek Lake and Crown Hill Lake, cutting holes in the ice. One firefighter pretended to be unconscious in the water while another called for help.
West Metro Fire does this sort of training annually in January or February, West Metro Fire spokesperson Ronda Scholting said, and the goal is for firefighters to be ready as soon as they get to the scene of a person or animal possibly falling through the ice of a lake or pond.
In the foothills, Evergreen and Elk Creek fire departments also practice ice water rescues.
Evergreen Fire/Rescue, for example, does two trainings each winter, according to Einar Jensen, a spokesman for EFR, especially with Evergreen Lake, Buchanan Ponds and other small bodies of water in the district. There has only been one call for an ice water rescue in the last five years, and the man and dog were able to get out on their own, Jensen noted.
"In December, we refresh all firefighters’ skills/knowledge for general ice safety so they can assist with shore support operations," he explained. "In February, we provide the formal ice-rescue technician certification course for a smaller group of firefighters who are on the water rescue team here at EFR."
Elk Creek does one to two drills in the water each season, Fire Chief Jacob Ware said, usually in the Davis Ponds at Staunton State Park. Inter-Canyon Fire does not have an ice water rescue team.
West Metro's Company 10 drove up in their fire trucks on Feb. 1, one firefighter already dressed in a bright yellow suit specifically used in ice-water rescues because it floats. The firefighters call it a “Gumby suit,” according to Scholting, and there’s a suit on every fire truck.
A firefighter puts on the “Gumby suit” while the truck is en route to the location, and the other firefighters grabs ropes. They either throw a rope to the person in the water or the firefighter in the “Gumby suit” moves onto the ice to help the animal or unconscious person, tying a rope around them so the others can pull them to safety.
Lt. Kyle Loupee said ice-water rescues don’t happen very often, but they are high risk for the person or animal in the water and for firefighters, hence the yearly training. He estimated that West Metro Fire responds to several calls a year.
Scholting added that animals more often than people fall through the ice, and the department would rather have people call first responders to help rather than trying to do the rescue themselves.
Loupee said the training allows firefighters to use consistent tactics and to make sure the equipment is functioning properly.
“We make sure we’re ready if the need arises,” Loupee said.
