A Bargersville firefighter carefully makes his way across a frozen retention pond to rescue a colleague who fell through the ice during a recent training.
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Local firefighters and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources are warning the public to stay off the ice.
Residential and commercial growth across Johnson County have brought many new retention ponds. The ponds, especially in residential areas, can be tempting to children and animals, public safety officials said.
Falling through the ice could end in tragedy, as hypothermia can set in within minutes, said Mike Pruitt, Bargersville’s deputy fire chief.
Constant temperature swings in Central Indiana make ice on natural bodies of water and retention ponds rarely safe. The freezing and thawing cycle gives ice an unstable foundation, and causes it to vary in thickness and put anyone who is walking, skating or fishing on it at risk, Pruitt said.
“There’s no such thing as safe ice in our area,” he said. “People should know that ice is not going to be safe no matter how inviting it looks.”
Already this winter, Bargersville firefighters have received reports of children and animals playing on ice. No one has fallen through yet, and firefighters want to keep it that way by raising awareness about ice safety, Pruitt said.
In general, Johnson County residents should avoid going on the ice, unless they happen to be an ice fisher who has the experience to tell what’s safe and what’s not, he said.
Ice needs to be at least four inches thick to support a person, a thickness that is unlikely to be achieved in Central Indiana unless there is a lengthy period when temperatures are significantly below freezing, according to Indiana DNR.
Though ice is never 100% safe, it is more likely to be safe when it is black, and is less likely to be safe if it is covered in or mottled with snow, DNR officials say.
Individuals who see a person or animal on the ice should yell for them to carefully come back to shore, and tell them to avoid getting on the ice in the future. If they don’t heed the warning to get off the ice, individuals should call 911, Pruitt said.
In an emergency, Pruitt cautions people against trying to rescue someone who is on the ice. If the rescuer falls in, the situation becomes much more difficult, he said.
Instead, the public should call 911, tell the person help is on the way, keep eyes on the situation, keep in contact with dispatch and, if possible, throw the person something to hold onto that will float, such as a rope or an unplugged extension cord, until rescuers arrive, Pruitt said.
Bargersville firefighters recently completed their annual ice rescue training and are ready to respond if necessary.
“It is one of those things that doesn’t happen often, but when it does it is tragic,” Pruitt said. “The more growth that happens here, the more retention ponds we will have and the more risk is added.”
