Asbury Park Firefighters Discuss Rescue Of Girl, Uncle From Icy Sunset Lake

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A 911 call set off a daring rescue in Asbury Park, N.J. Wednesday, and CBS2's Vanessa Murdock spoke with the heroes from the fire department.

The seaside city of Asbury Park was built around three lakes, including Sunset Lake. The peaceful setting became the backdrop for an ice rescue, Murdock reported Thursday.

Firefighter Carney Conklin was acting captain.

"You just want to get out there and get the kids off the ice," Conklin said.

On the scene, firefighters spotted two people, including a child, stranded on an island about 100 feet from shore.

Footprints in the snow belonging to 9-year-old Melissa Bialkowski and her uncle, Kevin Sullivan, were still visible Thursday, Murdock reported.

They made it to the island safely, but on the way back the ice started to crack, Murdock reported.

With cracking ice beneath his feet, Conklin said he knew the ice wasn't thick enough to hold him forever, so he tread very carefully on the thin ice, Murdock reported.

"You want to distribute your weight an shimmy yourself out here very slowly," Conklin told Murdock.

On the island, Conklin had Melissa get on an ice sled and then he joined her. Fellow firefighters then pulled them to safety.

The New Jersey Division Of Fire Safety told CBS2 that there were 236 ice rescues from 2000-2014, including two in Asbury Park.

Chief Kevin Keddy said they're a low-frequency but high-risk event.

"There's always fear of people falling through the ice. We like to be proactive, not reactive," Keddy said.

When the weather allows, the department comes to the lake to train, Murdock reported. In fact, firefighters were out on the lake Thursday morning honing their skills and measuring the thickness of the ice.

Ice must be at least six inches thick to truly be considered safe, but Asbury Park firefighters said the best rule of thumb is that the only safe ice is at the rink, Murdock reported.

The APFD also said it was able to respond to the scene within five minutes of the 911 call and that timing is critical. In freezing water, people lose consciousness in just 15 minutes.