BELTRAMI COUNTY, Minn. — The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office said an estimated 200 people were rescued after being stranded on a piece of ice that broke free on Upper Red Lake Monday.
A statement from the sheriff's office said authorities were first made aware of the stranded anglers around 11:30 a.m. When first responders arrived, they found a large portion of ice had broken away from the shore, with up to 30 yards of open water between the anglers and land.
Adam Studniski, one of the owners of the resort JR's Corner Access, said they were able to get a bridge from their shore to use as an evacuation point.
Just after 2:30 p.m., about 200 people had safely evacuated from the lake.
Studniski told KARE 11 a crack had been discovered in the ice a few hundred yards out from shore last week, and due to warmer weather over the last few days, the crack started to widen.
He said most people were off of the ice before search and rescue arrived at the scene, and there was "little-to-no panic" during the situation.
"I want to say thanks to the local fire and rescue and sheriff's department for being so fast," Studniski said. "Everyone did pretty much walk off on their own but it's cool to see their presence, that they're willing to help if needed."
"The entire lake is not solidly frozen yet so what we saw over the last 24 hours or so is the wind shift from a primary westerly wind to more of an easterly and south-easterly wind. Didn't take much," KARE 11 Meteorologist Ben Dery explained.
According to Studniski, they will not open JR's Corner Access without at least five inches of ice. He said Monday it measured 6- to 7-inches thick.
"Sometimes resorts get a bad rap for trying to open up too soon, which is not the case at all," Studniski said. "The resorts are really out there trying to keep everyone safe and checking ice daily."
In a Facebook post, the sheriff's office reminded ice anglers, "early season ice is very unpredictable. Extreme caution should be used when heading on the ice and to check the thickness frequently to ensure an adequate amount of ice."
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends 4 feet of new, clear ice be present before venturing onto the ice on foot.
"The ice is never 100% safe. So even though we recommend that you wait until 4 inches of ice, that doesn't mean that the ice is safe," said Nicole Biagi, MN DNR ice safety coordinator. "Need to consider a lot of other factors that affect ice strength, especially right now... the wind, and changing temperatures, the sunlight."
Biagi said besides checking the thickness of the ice yourself, wear proper safety gear.
"Wear a life jacket or a buoyant jacket and bring ice picks out with you," Biagi said. "If you fall through, these could save your life."
Kelliher Fire and Rescue, Red Lake Nation Fire, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota State Patrol, Blackduck Ambulance, Lake of the Woods Sheriff’s Office and local resorts assisted in the rescue.
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