Popular Minnesota Lake Sees 3rd Ice Rescue This Week

Upper Red Lake, MN (KROC-AM News)- For the third time in less than seven days authorities performed a rescue on a popular Minnesota lake.

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 The lake, like many others in the state, has been suffering from unstable ice conditions as a warmer than usual December rolls on. The latest incident happened Thursday evening. 

A news release issued by the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office says dispatchers received a report of an ATV and trailer breaking through the ice on Upper Red Lake. The call came in shortly before 8 p.m. 

Rescue teams spotted three men about a mile from shore around 8:20 p.m. First responders used ice rescue equipment to reach the men and they were brought back to the safety of shore by about 9:05 p.m. Officials say the three men were cold but did not suffer any injuries. 

The rescue of the three men comes after authorities responded to the report of a plane breaking through the ice on the lake on Dec. 19. Last Sunday, 35 people ice fishing on the lake had to be rescued after strong winds broke a chunk of ice from the shore line and stranded the individuals as far as 200 feet from the shore. 

No injuries were reported in the two prior incidents. Beltrami County Sheriff Jason Riggs says: 

Ice conditions vary greatly due to the unseasonably warm weather. The weather forecast for the holiday weekend calls for chances of rain with temperatures remaining above freezing, even in the overnight. Ice conditions will continue to deteriorate. Use extreme caution if you venture on area lakes and check the ice thickness frequently.

The DNR says ice should be at least four inches thick to be considered safe enough to walk on, however officials say ice is never 100% safe.

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