The calendar is reaching the end of December, a deep freeze gripped southern Saskatchewan for about two weeks earlier in the month, but there is still a possibility of thin ice on Regina’s channels, lakes, and ponds.
On Friday, Regina Fire sent out a reminder to residents to stay off bodies of water, and instead use outdoor rinks for any recreational use involving ice.
“We can have moving water in channels, lakes, and ponds all year long that creates thin spots,” explained Deputy Chief Layne Jackson.
Although the specific statistics were not handy, Jackson said they have seen an increase in emergency calls related to water and ice in 2016 compared with 2015.
Jackson could not identify a particular body of water that is a trouble spot in Regina.
The reminder comes after Regina firefighters responded to a call in the R.M. of Lumsden Wednesday where a Bobcat skid steer went through the ice on a body of water. A 33-year-old man was found deceased inside.
HOUSE FIRES
Regina Fire also sees an increase in calls related to house fires in the winter and around the holiday season.
Jackson reminded residents to be safe when cooking, and when dealing with space heaters and candles.
When asked if there is one specific cause of house fires during the holiday season, Jackson said “it’s a variety of different things.”