OPP say a snowmobile with a pair of riders went through the ice at the government dock just after lunch today.
Both crawled out and are safe.
Const. Carolyn Ward told BayToday that it happened on a well travelled route next to the dock breakwall when boats enter and leave the harbour. Water on the ice is evident in numerous locations along the shoreline and alongside the dock.
However, Ward warns the ice has shifted and is very insecure.
OPP say at approximately 1 p.m., two people were pulling a loaded toboggan on a snow machine when their snowmobile went through the ice. Both occupants were able to pull themselves out of the water and to safety. Both were uninjured.
The trail they were on when they broke through the ice was well travelled and near the break wall at the government dock. The ice has shifted and is insecure in this location and could be unsafe in other locations as well.
Officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources, North Bay and District Ambulance Service and North Bay Fire Department assisted.
At least 10 centimetres (4 inches) of clear blue ice is required for pedestrians, 20 centimetres (8 inches) for snowmobiles and 30 centimetres (12 inches), minimum, is needed for most light vehicles. These amounts should be doubled for safety if the ice is white or opaque. Ice safety and weight-bearing properties of ice can be affected by many factors including thickness, currents, age of ice, pressure cracks and snow cover. Ice does not freeze at uniform thickness across bodies of water. Thickness should be checked regularly as you move further out onto the ice.
The strongest ice is clear blue in colour. White or opaque ice is much weaker. A layer of heavy snow on a frozen lake or river can insulate the ice below and slow down freezing. Travelling on ice with snowmobiles or vehicles can be potentially very dangerous and added precautions must be taken. Avoid slushy ice, untracked ice, or ice near moving water or dock bubblers.
Proper use of safety equipment can reduce the risks of travelling over ice covered bodies of water. Some of these include the wearing of survival suits, carrying picks (used to grip ice to pull yourself out of the water) and carrying a rescue rope.
The OPP and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) are reminding snowmobilers to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being this winter. Snowmobilers are advised to go online at www.ofsc.on.ca to check the status of local trails.
