Groups of local firefighters rescued a dog in a lake near Parks that had fallen through the ice while running through the wilderness over the weekend.
Fire engines had a tough time driving on unpaved roads after the winter snow had turned the dirt to mud, causing firefighters to leave the engines behind and hike in wearing their gear. Firefighters were also worried that the owners who had fallen into the ice trying to save their dog might develop hypothermia and might not be able to walk back to the fire engines if needed.
Matt Turner, a captain of the Flagstaff Fire Department, said the dog had been hanging on to the ice in the center of the lake for around an hour and 30 minutes before rescuers made it from Flagstaff to the scene.
The dog was unable to swim about 40 feet through the ice and slush back to shore, Turner said.
“At one point they weren’t sure if the dog was still alive,” Turner said.