ALPENA COUNTY (WWJ) - Firefighters from three different departments banded together with conservation officers to rescue a hunting dog that fell through ice in Northern Michigan -- and the experience triggered a warning about unsafe conditions.
The Alpena City Fire Department reminded all outdoor enthusiasts to be wary of thin ice when venturing out onto seemingly frozen ponds, rivers and lakes after responding to a late-night call on Monday about a dog in distress.
Fire crews said they received a report of a dog that fell through the ice and became trapped in the Devils Lake area of Alpena Township around 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 15.
The dog belonged to a ground of people who were out hunting bobcat in the marsh area. They told dispatchers that they tried to call the animal back and venture out onto the ice, but their attempts were in vain.
According to a news release, the Alpena Fire Department felt they couldn't preform a successful rescue and initially declined heading out to the scene.
Based on the recommendation of a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officer, Alpena City Fire Department -- who had previously performed successful animal rescues -- was consulted on the case and determined that not only was the dog's safety at risk, but also those of the owners who were trying to reach the animal themselves.
The fire departments paired up with the help of DNR officers who transported the crews as well as their equipment to the area where the dog was trapped.
At approximately 12:22 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, fire fighters in cold water rescue gear reached the dog and transported it safely back to shore in a sled where it was reunited with its owners at 12:30 a.m.
According to a press release, fire crews said a mild winter season has created "marginal" ice conditions with snowfall creating further unsafe conditions.
As complied by state officials, some tips that hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts should remember when encountering ice around the state are as follows:
• Your safety is your responsibility! There is not a reliable "inch-thickness" to determine if ice is safe.
• You can test ice thickness and quality using a spud, needle bar or auger.
• Strongest ice: clear with bluish tint.
• Weak ice: ice formed by melted and refrozen snow. Appears milky.
• Stay off ice with slush on top. Slush ice is only half as strong as clear ice and indicates the ice is not freezing from the bottom.
• A sudden cold front with low temperatures can create cracks within a half-day.
• A warm spell may take several days to weaken ice, and cause the ice to thaw during the day and refreeze at night.
• Ice weakens with age.
• If there’s ice on the lake but water around the shoreline, be extra cautious.
• Stronger the current on the lake, the more likely the ice will give to open water.
• Avoid areas of ice with protruding debris like logs or brush.
• Keep an eye out for dock bubblers or de-icers as the ice near these mechanisms will be unsafe. Always check the ice and be aware of your surroundings.
If you happen to fall through ice, authorities say the first thing you should do is remain calm. Keep on all clothing to stay warm and turn in the water in the direction that you came from as this is more than likely the strongest ice.
"If you have ice picks, dig the points of the picks into the ice while vigorously kicking your feet to pull yourself onto the surface by sliding forward on the ice," state officials suggested. "Roll away from the area of weak ice. Rolling on the ice will distribute your weight to help avoid breaking through again."
Once you're safely away from ice, get to shelter and remove all wet clothing and redress in dry, warm clothes as well as consume warm, non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages "as soon as you can."
"Call 911 and seek medical attention if you feel disoriented, have uncontrollable shivering or have any other ill effects that may be symptoms of hypothermia, which is a life-threatening condition," authorities advised.