VIDEO: Take 3,000 blocks of ice, more than 100 volunteers, and a community built on ice and snow, and you've got just about everything you need to a build an ice castle. "This is volunteerism at its best," said Eagle River Fire Chief Michael Anderson. The Eagle River Fire Department takes charge of building the ice castle each year. It takes about five days to score the lake, harvest the ice, sand the blocks, and build the castle. Thursday, volunteers spent the day cutting and removing the ice blocks. "Today is my favorite day. Pulling the ice out of the lake is my favorite day," said Anderson.