York Regional Police are reminding people to stay off the ice on area lakes and streams as it is not yet safe.
"As a result of the recent colder weather and the recent snowfall, ice has begun to form on portions of Lake Simcoe," it said Thursday in a news release.
"There are still many areas of open water on Lake Simcoe. Those who take part in activities such as snowmobiling and ice-fishing are reminded that conditions are still too dangerous to be out on the ice. You are risking your life by even walking on newly-formed portions of ice."
Const. Robert Hands of the marine unit told ctvtoronto.ca that they had an airboat out on the southern reaches of Lake Simcoe on Wednesday.
They saw lots of snowmobilers, kiteboarders and ice fishermen out on the newly formed ice.
On Cook's Bay, they even saw one person take a vehicle out on the ice -- an act that triggered the news release.
The problem is that the ice's thickness is variable, so while it might be safe in one location, it could be dangerously thin in another, he said.
"Most of the lake is wide open," but the lake's southern areas that historically freeze first now have some ice cover, Hands said.
No reports have been received yet of people going through the ice, but police would like to keep it that way, he said, adding last winter was busy in terms of ice accidents.
If a person really wants to go on the ice, they should follow the same guidelines:
- Wear a floatation device
- Wear some type of exposure suit
- Travel in pairs
- Be prepared for self-rescue (eg., have handpicks)
- Make sure someone knows where you're going and when you'll be back
"Right now, we're saying don't go out there, period. Your life is not worth a bucket of perch," Hands said.
