The mechanics of rescuing someone who’s fallen through the ice on a frozen lake seem simple enough. A rescuer heads out onto the ice, jumps in the water, wraps a rope under the arms of the victim, and a team on shore pulls both people in.

Colorado Springs firefighters who practiced ice rescues at Prospect Lake on Monday were keenly aware of other factors that can complicate a simple rescue. For one thing, if the ice was thin enough for a victim to fall through, it’s thin enough to break under the rescuer’s weight, said fire Lt. Bill Hull. That could make it tough to reach a victim who’s likely either panicked or unable to move after prolonged exposure to extreme cold, Hull said.

City firefighters respond to very few emergencies where someone has fallen through ice on a lake or river, but 911 calls warning of people walking on ice are routine. By early Monday afternoon, two or three people were reported on the ice at Prospect Lake, Hull said, although none fell through.

When someone does fall into the icy water, the effects are almost immediate. Fingers freeze up with in five minutes, and the weight of soaked clothing pulls a victim lower. Within 10 minutes, sinking under the water is inevitable for most people.

“You’re going to sink because your extremities aren’t going to work,” Hull said.

The ice rescue training is required once a year for some firefighters. Others have more advanced training to put on SCUBA gear and dive under the surface in search of a victim.

Although highly trained in rescue techniques, Hull said he hasn’t yet had occasion to rescue a person. He has pulled several dogs from the icy water, though.

“The reason we rescue dogs is if we don’t go out and get them, somebody else will,” he said.

Meteorite Hunter” Robert Ward holds a ceiling tile at the Red Rock Lounge on Monday, showing damage he believes was caused by a meteorite. Photo by MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE