(KENORA, ON) Members of the Kenora Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are cautioning everyone to be careful if they chose to travel on the ice. Due to the mild temperatures, Lake of the Woods and other bodies of water have opened up. Not only does melting ice become unsafe, but banks along all bodies of water soften and can pose a threat.
On Sunday March 13, 2016 just before 7:00 a.m, police received a call that a male went through the ice in front of Birchwood Nursing Home on Lakeview Drive. The OPP along with Kenora Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were able to pull the male out of the water without incident.
While ice crossing is never a sure thing, travellers should also reduce the risk by staying away from open water.
Some tips to remember include:
Check the ice thickness and quality before riding or walking onto any frozen water
Understand that ice conditions may vary from day to day, from hour to hour and from place to place
Watch out for obstacles such as rocks, stumps and docks
Wear a buoyant snowmobile suit and carry ice picks
Please follow these important tips as any ice related rescue has the potential to put the lives of others and emergency responders at great risk.
NO ICE IS SAFE ICE. Anyone who decides to venture onto ice covered bodies of water should do so with extreme caution.