DNR warns of thin ice danger
ST. PAUL (AP) - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is warning parents to keep their children off the thin ice that's now forming across much of the state.
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As of Monday, no ice in the state was consistently four inches thick, which is the minimum recommended to support the weight of a person.
Tim Smalley, DNR boat and water safety specialist, says conservation officers report that some people are starting to tiptoe out onto a few frozen ponds. He says that's not a good idea, and could set a bad example for kids.
The DNR says 43 people have died in falls through the ice in Minnesota in the last 10 years. Nearly 30 percent of them were younger than 9 years old.
The holidays are a particularly risky time, since kids are out of school and spend more time outdoors.
Dressed in exposure suits, Nisswa Firefighters venture out onto the thin ice of Lake Edward Wednesday morning after a resident sighted something moving out on the lake. The emergency personnel discovered a white tail deer partially submerged in the cold water. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Dressed in their exposure suits, Nisswa firefighters discussed their options with the Nisswa Fire Chief after the rescuers discovered a white tail deer partially submerged in the open areas of Lake Edward Wednesday morning. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls