With warmer weather on the horizon, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) released a statement reminding the public to be mindful of ice conditions during the freeze-thaw cycle.
Testing has recently been done by the SFD which have determined ice thickness is not suitable for winter recreational use, as ice must be a minimum thickness of at least eight inches to be considered safe. Due to ice surfaces around Saskatoon being below this number, fire crews will be posting signage at each recreational storm pond that read “No Skating”.
“Community members who use the ponds for recreational purposes assume all risk and maintenance responsibilities for the ice including removing personal belongings, as well as user safety,” the news release from the City of Saskatoon stated.
In addition, ice on the South Saskatchewan River has also begun melting, and the public is reminded that the ice on this body of water is unpredictable and is never safe for recreational use, so residents are asked to never venture out onto ice surfaces along the river.
On Friday, April 7th, at approximately 10:30pm, Warman Fire Rescue received a call regarding a vehicle that had gone through the ice at the Clarkboro Ferry crossing on the South Saskatchewan River. Corman Park Police, as well as Saskatoon RCMP were also on scene.
Upon arriving, WFR was notified by a witness that the two occupants were able to escape the vehicle and were safe on the Aberdeen side of the river, with no other occupants left in the vehicle.
Warman Fire Chief Russ Austin stated that the vehicle was completely submerged and no rescue efforts were required.
“As always, we remind people that ice crossings on moving water are never safe at any time of year as ice thickness is affected by shifting currents and changes in water flow,” Austin stated.
Community members are advised to always exercise an elevated level of caution when around any large body of water. Keep a close watch on children and pets when visiting trails, parks, or off-leash areas that may run adjacent to the South Saskatchewan River or a storm water retention pond.
