'Stay off the ice,' warns Manitoulin Island first responders
First responders are warning people to stay off the ice; it comes amid an increase of people falling into frozen waterways across the northeast.
Ontario Provincial Police are reminding the public to be cautious after a snow machine went through the ice earlier this week in Elliot Lake. (OPP photos)Late Monday morning, the Gore Bay Fire Department took to its Facebook page posting, "SERIOUSLY???? There are still people out on the ice in Gore Bay."
"We put out a warning because we did notice there were people out on the ice. People are telling us there’s lots of ice, there’s four to five inches in some places, but that’s not everywhere," said Gore Bay Fire Department chief Michael Addison.
"And there are a number of conditions that can make the ice thinner and weaker. Things like underwater springs, a lot of our lakes are spring-fed. There are shoals where the water washes over the shoal and therefore the ice is thinner."
Addison said there was also a late start to the winter, which has complicated things in and around Gore Bay and much of the island.
"We had a little bit of ice and then a dump of snow and that snow insulated the ice, so the ice wasn’t forming the way it normally would in those cold temperatures," he said.
"And of course, over the next two weeks, we’re going to be experiencing warm temperatures for this part of the year."
The long-time fire chief said they’ve been lucky so far this season, they haven’t had anyone fall through the ice, but they’ve seen pictures from other jurisdictions in the northeast that can’t say the same.
"My biggest concern here is we are not trained for ice rescue, we are not equipped, we don’t have the gear because we’re all volunteers on Manitoulin," Addison said.
"If something happens, we’re shore-based only. Our municipalities will only allow us to be shore-based, but we can show up and we can watch somebody and do you know how horrible that would be? Be standing there and not be able to do something? But we’re not trained to do it."
His message to those right now is to stay off the ice.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
"It’s not consistent, if you’re close to shore, it can vary, if you’re near a river or stream, it can vary," the fire chief said.
"The ice is starting to turn darker in colour which means its weakening. You just don’t know. We did have a drowning here a few years ago that we responded to. There were hundreds of people out on the ice, it was March Break and these people went out just like anyone else did, found a weak spot and went through and, unfortunately, one person did drown and it was horrible. It’s horrible for them, it’s horrible for their families and it’s horrible for first responders."
Addison wants people to know if they do go out, there are no rescue resources available to help.
"We just want people to be safe," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.