VIDEO: First responders with the Unified Fire Authority on Tuesday honed their skills on life-saving ice rescues on the ice of Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman. Each winter in Utah, several people and a few pets typically fall through the ice on a pond or reservoir. When it comes to rescues of all kinds, rescue specialist Jason Jones said the first thing to keep in mind is to avoid being a victim in the first place. So stay off the ice unless you are certain it is strong enough to support your weight — that means at least 4 inches thick. When somebody goes through the ice, staying calm is the key. The rescue crews tell said people often overestimate how strong the ice is and will venture out on thin ice.