It was a beautiful day at Henderson Lake  on Friday, Feb. 26 – above the water, that is.

Below the ice was a flurry of activity as the Lethbridge Fire and Rescue team perfected their ice rescue skills.

The rescue team uses Henderson Lake as a spot to work on these valuable scenarios because that’s where a majority of the city’s rescue calls come from. 

About two to three calls a year come from this familiar city park, says Mark Matheson, an ice rescue trainer with Lethbridge’s Fire and Rescue.

The Lethbridge Fire and Rescue team annually bring their mobile command post to the northwest side of the lake and these scenarios are normally practiced during February.

“Even though the city has declared the ice safe, it’s important that people always wear a life jacket while on the surface,” says Matheson who was there with many other members of the team.

Matheson explained that because the weather is unseasonably warm this time of the year, the ice is melting and public should only use areas the City of Lethbridge has deemed safe.

He also added that if you see a person who has fallen through the ice, to immediately call 911 so they can respond within minutes. Do not try to approach them as the ice could fracture more and cause you to fall in as well.