MADISON, Wis. – First responders in Dane County are warning people to stay off the ice after several people fell through Friday morning.
A representative from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office said accidents happened on Lake Wingra, Mudd Lake as well as Crystal Lake. In each situation, a person fell through the ice in places where it could not support their weight.
“It might look good right now, but it’s really not safe,” said Elise Schaffer with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office. “We just really need to be mindful that it’s been warm just a few days ago.”
First responders in #MadisonWI say they saved several people who fell through barely frozen lakes this morning alone.
Tonight they want every Ice Fisherman/Skater/Hockey Player to know- the ice isn’t thick enough to enjoy safely.
The story, tonight on #News3Now at 10. pic.twitter.com/psIxM5bmIi
— Adam Duxter (@News3Adam) December 19, 2020
Madison Fire Department says they also responded to calls Friday morning, with a Lake Rescue team using an airboat to get people to safety. Still, they want people to understand the risk of falling in.
“Someone in the water for four minutes when they’re not able to touch, their strength goes away rather quickly,” said Lt. Cory Reno. “They can lose grip on the edge of the ice and they will go down.”
Reno says until ice is at least six inches thick, it’s not safe to be on. He says the ice currently on places like Monona Bay and Lake Wingra is classified as “early ice”, meaning while the lake could be entirely frozen, ice could break at any time.
“That’s the problem with ice,” he said. “You can never really tell.”
Reno said it could take at least another week of below freezing temps for lakes to freeze to a point where they’re safe to be on.
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