Chestermere Fire department wants you to stay off the ice

The Chestermere Fire Department has a message for residents now that we’ve hit spring: Stay off the ice!
While there may be some ice floes left on the lake or other waterways, now is not the time to venture onto them for any reason. 
The rising temperatures have made the ice easily breakable and unstable, and the fire department doesn’t want to see an incident such as the tragic one that killed a 6-year-old boy in Airdrie last month.
“Both the lake and storm ponds in the city are very unpredictable right now,” said senior firefighter Rob Barchard.
“It’s time to put the skates away, unless you have some ice time booked over at the rec centre.”
The department has posted a self-rescue video on their website (chestermere.ca) to give anyone caught in that situation some technique to reach safety. 
“If it becomes an emergency, call 911,” Barchard said. “The fire department has the right equipment and training to respond.”
Barchard understands there is temptation to grab one more experience skating on the lake when it’s chilly in the morning. 
The late is a temptress though, and can be cruel. It may be fun to try and stand on the ice, but all it takes is one moment for things to go wrong.
“The ice is very deceptive, especially close to the shore,” Barchard said. “Ice depth and stability can change significantly throughout the day. 
“Lower temperatures through the night allow ice to form around the shore but as temperatures rise, the heat absorbed into the ground near the shore speeds the thaw.”