Frozen lakes, ponds present danger
Several hours before hundreds of people splashed in Prospect Lake to raise money for charity, authorities rescued a dog that had fallen through the ice there.
It led the Colorado Springs Fire Department to advise people to stay off lake and pond ice.
“It can be dangerous,” said Lt. David Barron of the department’s dive team, which conducted the rescue. “It’s been cold lately but before that it was warm. It hasn’t been cold enough for long enough for the ice to be solid and safe. People think it is, but it’s not.”
Barron said the rescue happened around 9 a.m. Saturday and could have become a more serious situation.
“Today was a close call because the owner wanted to go out and rescue the dog, and then a police officer wanted to go out and rescue the dog before firefighters finally got here and went out themselves, with the proper gear,” he said.
Barron said firefighters have responded to several calls about people on the ice this winter but people usually leave the ice before firefighters arrive.
