By Shaun Penner

Ice Rescue

Dog, owner rescued after falling through ice Saturday near Beaverlodge

Nov 14, 2020 | 5:12 PM

A joint effort by the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service, as well as the Beaverlodge and Wembley fire stations, led to the rescue of a dog and its owner that had fallen through some ice east of Beaverlodge Saturday, while another dog succumbed to the conditions.

Just before 2:50 p.m. Saturday afternoon, the Beaverlodge, Wembley, and Clairmont stations responded to a report of a dog which had fallen into a dugout on Highway 723, near Township Road 724.

Upon arrival, crews found the dog had fallen through the ice into an aerated dug out.

With that, the Regional Fire Service says the dog’s owner was attempting to rescue the dog with a rope around his waist upon their arrival. Crews say once the dog was rescued, the owner could not safely get back to shore.

The owner and dog were pulled back by fire crews. However, the second dog was also in the water and died.

“The ice conditions at this time of year are unpredictable and in locations could be several inches thick, then a few feet away may barely be present,” said Jason Nesbitt, Regional Fire Service Deputy Chief.

With that, Nesbitt adds that residents need to be extra cautious when out on the ice, and to not take any unnecessary risks.

“We all love our animals but must not take unnecessary risks to rescue them. If an animal falls through the ice, chances are any person attempting to rescue the animal will too. Animals are better equipped to save themselves then people. Doing so not only endangers yourself, but that of others at the scene who may now attempt to rescue you.”

He adds that if a human or animal falls through ice and they cannot escape, you should call 911 for help, immediately.

“Once that is completed, attempt to coach the person or animal out of the water, and reach to give the person or animal something to grab onto if close to shore,” says Nesbitt. “For a person fallen through the ice, if available, throw a rope and direct the person to wrap it around their hands so they may be pulled up onto the ice and back to shore.

“If none of these methods work, keep constant watch on the location of the person or animal. If a person, keep them talking and provide encouragement to keep their forearms on solid ice, and wait for trained emergency personnel with the appropriate equipment to affect a rescue.

“In addition to these actions, always follow the directions of emergency personnel once they arrive on scene and the directions of our highly trained 911 dispatchers. The directions they give are to ensure your safety.”

This response follows a call the Hythe Fire Department and County Fire Service crews were called to on Brainard Lake, northwest of Hythe on November 7.

Prior to trained emergency personnel with ice rescue equipment arriving to the scene, a resident at the location was trying to rescue the dog with a rope and fishing boat. The dog was rescued by emergency personnel.

“Aerated dugouts and ponds are especially dangerous. As seen in both incidents, the weight of a dog was sufficient to collapse the ice.