After a holiday week that has already seen victims of thin ice claimed in northern Minnesota, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents that lake ice is still thin around the county, with open water still evident in some areas.
Ice fishing season is in full swing, as evidenced by shacks popping up on area lakes. However, ice conditions aren’t safe, yet, for heavy vehicles such as trucks and SUVs, in most places.
The Wright County Sheriff’s Office states: Venturing onto thin ice not only places your life in danger, but that of First Responders called to assist, if/when someone breaks through the ice.
The Wright County Sheriff’s Office along with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wants to remind the public to use caution around frozen lakes, streams, ponds and other bodies of water.
Tragically, every year in Minnesota someone will lose their life due to falling through thin ice that they thought was safe. The Sheriff’s Office warns that ice is never 100 percent safe. Ice seldom freezes uniformly, and can go from being a foot thick in one location and then only an inch or two thick a few feet away.
The DNR recommends the following ice thickness when utilizing frozen waterways:
- 2” or less – STAY OFF
- 4” for walking
- 5” for a snowmobile or ATV
- 8” – 12” for a car or small truck
- 12” – 15” for a medium truck
For more information on Ice Safety visit the Minnesota DNR’s website.