(Mock) Rescue on Bear Creek Lake

West Metro Fire prepares to help people, animals falling through the ice

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

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 re ghters practiced ice-water rescues on Feb. 1 on Bear Creek Lake and Crown Hill Lake, cutting holes in the ice. One re ghter 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 re ghters 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.

Company 10 drove up in their re trucks on Feb. 1, one re ghter already dressed in a bright yellow suit speci cally used in ice-water rescues because it oats. e re ghters call it a “Gumby suit,” according to Scholting, and there’s a suit on every re truck.

A re ghter puts on the “Gumby suit” while the truck is en route to the location, and the other re ghters grabs ropes. ey either throw a rope to the person in the water or the re ghter 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 re ghters, hence

After Refacing