It will be a while before there is any significant ice on most of Saskatchewan’s rivers, ponds and lakes with temperatures forecast to be above freezing next week in central and southern Saskatchewan.

When it has been cold enough for long enough though, Deputy Chief Rob Hogan with the Saskatoon Fire Department advises never to go out on river ice.

“The thickness on the river ice varies from day to day and so does the river level. Sometimes the river might be right up to the ice or over the ice and sometimes it might be a foot or two below, so it’s really important you don’t go on that ice.”

He urges dog walkers that if your dog goes in the water, don’t go in after it because once you go into the water, it creates a more significant hazard for the Fire Department when responding.

The Deputy Chief urges everyone to stay off river ice and be cautious on the riverbank, including with family pets. When it comes to ponds and lakes, Hogan suggests checking the ice first. That means it needs to be at least 10 centimetres or four inches to walk on it, double that for a snowmobile and for a car or light truck, you need more than 30 centimetres thickness.

The Saskatoon Fire Department tests the ice at storm retention ponds around the city and when they are over 20 centimetres thick, the signs go up that say they are safe for skating. He urges dog walkers that if your dog goes in the water, don’t go in after it because once you go into the water, it creates a more significant hazard for the Fire Department when responding.

The Deputy Chief urges everyone to stay off river ice and be cautious on the riverbank, including with family pets.