DOUGLAS COUNTY — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple reports of open water forming around ice houses on lakes throughout Douglas County.
Due to recent weather conditions, deteriorating ice is causing large holes to develop beneath and around ice shelters. In several instances, these conditions have resulted in ice houses breaking through the ice, according to the sheriff’s office, which released a warning on Wednesday, Feb. 18.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office strongly recommends that ice house owners immediately check ice conditions around their shelters. If conditions appear unsafe, owners should remove their shelters as soon as possible and refrain from returning them to the ice until conditions improve, according to the sheriff’s office.
Ice conditions can change rapidly, especially during periods of fluctuating temperatures and precipitation. What may appear safe one day can quickly become hazardous the next, the sheriff’s office said.
Reminders from the sheriff’s office: No ice is ever 100% safe. Residents and visitors are urged to use extreme caution when traveling on frozen lakes. Always check ice thickness frequently, avoid areas of open water, and keep a safe distance from pressure ridges and other weak spots.
Al Edenloff is the editor of the twice-weekly Echo Press. He started his journalism career when he was in 10th grade, writing football and basketball stories for the Parkers Prairie Independent.