Cold-Water Rescue Underway at Salem’s Canobie Lake firefighters pulled one dog from the freezing waters of Canobie Lake on Friday, December 5, 2025, after the animal fell through the ice, conducting a focused cold-water rescue that local dispatches described as successful.

Crews from the Salem Fire Department’s Battalion 4 moved across the ice toward the distressed animal and deployed a rescue raft to bridge the gap between safe ice and the breach in the surface. Personnel working from the raft wore cold-water protective suits and used standard rescue techniques to reach the dog and bring it aboard before transporting it back to shore.

The department described the operation as a short, intense response in challenging, near-freezing conditions. Battalion 4’s use of a raft and cold-water gear reflected established ice-rescue tactics: reaching the animal from a stable platform, limiting direct exposure of crew members to open water, and withdrawing the victim to safety as quickly as conditions allowed. Local reporting from 1stResponderNews documented the deployment of cold-water/ice rescue equipment during the incident.

The rescue unfolded on Friday with crews traveling over a mix of solid ice and open water to set the raft in position. Firefighters working from the raft, protected by insulating suits, pulled the dog aboard and then moved back to solid ground. Officials confirmed that only one animal was involved and that it was removed from the water during the operation.

The episode highlighted the particular dangers that winter conditions pose to pets. During winter, dogs face significant risks from cold exposure, including life-threatening hypothermia and frostbite, especially on extremities like ears, paws and tail tips. Walking on frozen bodies of water poses a danger of falling through weak ice, a hazard that can lead to rapid cooling and distress for animals and people alike. Winter safety tips | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Salem’s approach to the incident matches common practices used by fire departments for cold-water rescues. Local fire departments typically train and equip specialized teams for ice and cold-water rescues, including use of insulated dry suits, flotation devices, reach-and-throw tools and sleds. Those specialized teams practice techniques designed to reach animals or people that have fallen through ice without putting rescuers at unnecessary risk. Pet emergency plan and disaster preparedness

Responders balanced speed and caution as they worked over treacherous footing and open water. The raft served to span weak ice and provide a stable platform from which crew members in cold-water protection could operate. The protective suits used during the operation help limit heat loss for rescuers and give them mobility needed to perform the retrieval safely. Multiple Dogs Have Fallen Through Ice This Winter—How to Keep …

The single-animal rescue drew attention from neighbors and bystanders but remained a contained incident for Salem Fire Department crews, who completed the task and returned the dog to shore. Media coverage emphasized the department’s readiness to respond to animal emergencies that involve ice and open water.

Officials and animal-safety organizations routinely urge caution around frozen or open water; pet owners can help reduce the risk of such incidents by keeping dogs on a secure leash and not allowing them to run free near frozen or open bodies of water, including lakes, rivers, ponds or backyard pools. The Canobie Lake rescue serves as a reminder of both the hazards presented by winter ice and the specialized response capabilities local fire units bring to bear when animals become trapped.

Source

Original reporting: 1stResponderNews.