Multiple people had to be rescued on Wednesday afternoon after the Somerset County dispatch center received reports that people were attempting to rescue dogs that had fallen through thin ice.
The dogs had fallen through the ice on a small pond located on Middle Road in Fairfield at around 5:32 p.m., according to officials. While officials were on their way to the scene, they received information that at least two people were on the ice, attempting to pull the animals from the water.
When officials arrived on scene, two people had fallen through the surface, and had been pulled out into a canoe. Unfortunately, the canoe got stuck on broken surface ice, and officials needed a second canoe to reach the people in the stranded canoe.
When officials were finally able to get the people, who are not being named, to shore, they declined to be transported to a local hospital. They did not appear to be experiencing life-threatening conditions. One of the dogs is believed to be in critical condition.
At this point in the year, ice out is already underway in many ponds and lakes, and people are being urged to use extreme caution around waterways. Ice thickness is not consistent at this time of year, and people are urged to stay off the ice.
