On Thin Ice
Firefighters during a ice rescue training exercise at the Peninsula boat launch in Moses Lake.
MOSES LAKE - Firefighters want to remind the public of the
dangers of icy waters.
About five years ago, a construction worker died after he fell into
freezing water in the Cascade Valley while attempting to rescue a
neighbor's dog, said Moses Lake Fire Chief Tom Taylor.
MOSES LAKE - Firefighters want to remind the public of the dangers of icy waters.
About five years ago, a construction worker died after he fell into freezing water in the Cascade Valley while attempting to rescue a neighbor's dog, said Moses Lake Fire Chief Tom Taylor.
Firefighters worked to free the construction worker, but they kept falling into the thinning ice as well, said Taylor.
"The guy was in the water for at least 30 minutes before the crew was able to get to him. He succumbed to his injuries and died," he said.
Firefighters want to prevent another ice-water-related fatality.
Taylor said the best thing for citizens to do if they see an animal on the ice is to call 9-1-1.
"We will send the appropriate responders and we are equipped for an ice rescue," he said.
But staying away from icy water goes beyond saving a pet, said Grant County Fire District 5 Fire Chief Scott Clendenin.
"Even if they see a boat capsized, people just need to call 9-1-1 and keep an eye out while at a safe distance," he said.
The best way to help rescue crews, said Clendenin, is to call and report what individuals see.
"We will make contact with the reporting sources so that we can get to the scene as quickly as possible," he said.
Taylor said Moses Lake is fed by many warm springs, which bubbles up and has the ability to cause freezing waters to crack.
"(The warm springs) create fragile ice conditions; people don't know where they are at. We don't know even know where they are at, but at least we are equipped to deal with them," said Taylor.
The Moses Lake Fire Department and Grant County Fire District 5 combine firefighters to form a joint ice rescue response team.
About 23 firefighters are part of the ice rescue team, said Clendenin.
"It's our job as caretakers of the community to keep them as safe as possible and so we want them to stay away from icy waters and just call 9-1-1," said Clendenin.