In light of a recent tragedy involving a child playing in the snow Amaranth Township, near Orangeville, the Owen Sound Police Service is cautioning parents and children to exercise snow safety when playing.
Although snow forts have been part of Canadian tradition, they are dangerous and the structural integrity of snow forts is unpredictable. With large snow piles and banks, there can easily be hundreds of pounds of snow above a child inside a fort. Any collapse could have tragic circumstances whether the child is being closely monitored or not.
Snow forts constructed close to roadways are especially dangerous as snowplows can drive by to push back banks with little notice. Even the vibration of heavy vehicles along the roadway could create collapse.
Additionally city police are advising people of all ages to stay off snow banks along roadways. A sudden slip could quickly send a person tumbling into the path of a vehicle.