FAIRFIELD, Maine — Fairfield police are reminding the public to stay vigilant about ice conditions after two people broke through ice on a pond Wednesday while trying to get two dogs to safety.
Shortly after 5:30 p.m., the Somerset County Communications Center received a report about two dogs on the ice of a small pond off Middle Road in Fairfield, the Fairfield Police Department said in a news release. One of the dogs was reported to have fallen through the ice.
While Fairfield police and fire crews were responding to the area, dispatchers were then notified that people had made their way out on the ice in an apparent effort to try and rescue the dogs and that at least two of the people broke through the ice and were in the water.
"Upon arrival at the scene, it was found that the people that had gone through the ice had been pulled into canoes, and that one canoe was now stuck in the broken ice," the release stated.
Fire crews from Fairfield-Benton and Skowhegan worked to pull the second canoe to shore by using another canoe, according to police. The two dogs were also pulled safely to shore, one of which reportedly suffered life-threatening injuries.
Police said both people who fell through the ice declined treatment.
The Maine State Police, Maine Warden Service, Delta Ambulance, and Skowhegan Police Department also assisted at the scene.
"The Fairfield Police Department would like to remind everyone that ice conditions are extremely dangerous at the moment, and to stay off the ice," the release said.