Two people who tried to assist a pair of dogs on the ice fell through the ice themselves and needed to be rescued Wednesday afternoon, according to Fairfield police. The two people were pulled into canoes before emergency crews arrived. At least one of the dogs fell through the ice and is believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. Photo courtesy of Fairfield Police Department

FAIRFIELD — At least two people fell through the ice on a small pond off Middle Road Wednesday night while trying to rescue two dogs, one of which had broken through the ice and was in the water, according to police.

The people were pulled into canoes before emergency crews arrived and declined to be taken to the hospital, according to Fairfield police Officer Casey Dugas. One dog is believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

Multiple police agencies and other emergency crews responded to the scene to find one canoe stuck in the broken ice, according to a news release Dugas issued Wednesday night.

Emergency crews respond to a small pond off Middle Road in Fairfield on Wednesday for a report of two people who fell through the ice while trying to save two dogs, according to Fairfield police. The two people were pulled into canoes before emergency crews arrived. At least one of the dogs fell through the ice and is believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. Photo courtesy of Fairfield Police Department

Dugas said that just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Somerset County Communications Center received a report of two dogs on the pond and that one had broken through the ice. Fairfield police and Fairfield-Benton Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the scene and were told while en route that people were on the ice trying to rescue the dogs and at least two people had broken through the ice and were in the water.

“Rescuers from Fairfield-Benton Fire and Rescue as well as Skowhegan Fire Department were able to pull the second canoe to shore with use of another canoe,” Dugas said in the release.

Dugas said both dogs were pulled to shore.

The Maine State Police, Maine Warden Service, Skowhegan Police Department and Delta Ambulance also assisted at the scene, he said.

“The Fairfield Fire Department would like to remind everyone that ice conditions are extremely dangerous at the moment and to stay off the ice,” he said.