Girdwood Fire Department and

Anchorage Fire Department Dive Team

Respond to Possible Ice Rescue at Portage Lake

5-7-08 

Contact Tom Kempton 907-317-7233

At 4:05 PM today a 911 caller on the access road to the Whittier Tunnel near Portage Glacier Lake reported sighting a dog circling a hole in the lake ice.  The caller suspected that someone had fallen into the lake while walking on the ice. The caller spotted the dog from the tunnel access road, north side of Portae Glacier Lake just before the first tunnel.

Three units from the Girdwood Fire Department as well as the Dive Rescue Team from the Anchorage Fire Department were summoned to the scene.  Chief Bill Chandwick from the Girdwood Fire Department described the conditions as very dangerous to rescuers with high winds, rain with open water on the lake and the evidence of a recent avalance that had carried out onto the lake ice. An Alaska State Trooper Helicopter responded and was unable to spot anyone in the water.  Recent dog tracks were seen on the lake ice in the area indicated by the caller but the dog was not located either. 

Because of the treacherous conditions and without a victim being located, Chief Chadwick released the fire department rescue units at 6:55 PM    Chadwick did report that an abandoned vehicle was present in the Portage Glacier parking lot.

The Alaska State Troopers took over the scene.