ARVADA, Colo. (KDVR) — Temperatures are warming up, however there’s nonetheless ice on native lakes and ponds. Arvada firefighters are making the most of the situations for ice rescue coaching.
With cameras strapped onto firefighters, FOX31 captured groups plunging right into a lake off Interstate 70 and Ward Highway on Monday as they practiced saving individuals with rope pulls and self-rescues.
“It is a very high-risk state of affairs, so now we have to be environment friendly and quick to have the ability to make these rescues,” Arvada Hearth Captain Tyler Beck stated.
Yearly, nearly 200 Arvada firefighters refresh their ice rescue certifications to arrange for the avoidable however inevitable.
“We’re most likely doing round 10 to fifteen ice calls a 12 months,” Beck stated. “It is sadly — most of them are fully avoidable.”
Beck informed FOX31 that many rescue calls come after pets fall within the water, notably round this time of 12 months.
“For this reason we will see it,” Beck stated. “The climate’s stunning out at the moment. It should be 60 levels. You are going to need to exit to the park and allow them to off leash, and they’ll run to the ice chasing after these geese. So, it is actually necessary to maintain them on a leash and forestall that from occurring altogether.”
Beck stated individuals ought to by no means chase after an animal that runs onto the ice. As an alternative, name for assist.
“Name us. We’ve the instruments, tools and coaching to have the ability to rescue your pet,” Beck stated. “It is actually necessary in the event you did fall into the ice, simply to stay calm. There’s so typically that you will begin to freak out, but it surely’s actually necessary to remain calm on the ice shelf, preserve your vitality, however name for assist as a lot as you may.”
Firefighters shall be coaching on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
