Ice on South Saskatchewan River (photo courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Chantal Wagner

Firefighters remind of ice safety around bodies of water

Jan 14, 2021 | 12:09 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – According to Medicine Hat Firefighters, ice formation on bodies of water varies from day to day, especially this time of year.

They say our current warm temperatures during the day and cold at night is not good for ice formation.

Captain Scott Berg says they advocate that no ice is safe ice.

But you can be safe and check the ice thickness before you venture out. You can do so by drilling holes with a drill bit.

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He says do not go on ice that’s less than three inches.

Thickness must be 4-5 inches for ice fishing, and up to 15 inches for a light truck.

For a snowmobile or quad, the ice must be 6-7 inches thick and 8-12 inches for a small car.

According to Berg, snow insulates the ice and makes it weaker, and adds ice that’s clear and see-through is the strongest ice.

“It’s indicated that it formed quickly (ice) and it also can be a longer duration of cold spells. It’s often colourless or has the colour of the water beneath which could be green, blue or even black. Ice that’s milky or has snow cover is weaker, it’s porous, it’s made with portions of precipitation so rain or snow or thawing or freezing which introduces other properties into the ice and becomes weak.”

Berg says ice on the river is particularly dangerous because of moving water that fluctuates in depth and changes daily.

Berg reminds again to be safe, check the ice thickness before you venture out, and let someone know where you’re going.