Ice floe rescues operation in northern Minnesota
A dramatic rescue operation took place on Friday evening in northern Minnesota, as a total of 122 anglers were successfully rescued from an ice floe that detached from the main ice on Upper Red Lake. The incident occurred about 30 feet from the shore, leaving the fishermen stranded and unable to get back to dry land. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as all individuals were safely rescued.
The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, which was first called just before 5 p.m. CT, coordinated the rescue effort. Some bystanders attempted to use a canoe to rescue the stranded individuals, but four people fell into the water during the attempt. They were quickly rescued by emergency responders.
The first four fishermen were rescued around 6:40 p.m. CT, and by 7:37 p.m. all 122 individuals had made it back to the mainland, according to a report by the sheriff’s office on Facebook.
“Our first responders have had a lot of practice this year, and it is quite impressive we evacuated 122 people in less than 3 hours from the first call in a rural area of the county,” said Chris Mueller, public information officer for the sheriff’s office.
The incident serves as a reminder of the changing and uneven ice conditions across the state. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources warned the public to stay on shore until there is at least 4 inches of new, clear ice and to have the proper safety equipment when heading out onto the ice.
Recent rain and prolonged above-freezing temperatures have caused ice conditions to deteriorate, which has led to several incidents of ice-related emergencies in the region. The state has experienced abnormally warm temperatures in December, leading to poor conditions for creating strong ice to support activities such as ice fishing.
The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office also highlighted the frequent need for ice rescues on Upper Red Lake, noting previous occasions when a light plane broke through the ice and when a sheet of ice broke loose, stranding up to 200 individuals.
It is also crucial for individuals to check the ice thickness frequently and to know their travel path when venturing onto the ice. The sheriff’s office advised people to check with area resorts prior to going onto the ice for safety updates.
The recent incident on Upper Red Lake serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of venturing onto precarious ice conditions, and highlights the importance of being prepared and cautious when engaging in cold-weather activities in the region.