WARMAN, Sask. – The fire department in Warman, Sask., is warning people they are taking their lives into their own hands when they drive across the Clarkboro ice road. Fire Chief Gord Thompson says despite the risk of thinning ice, people have been crossing the seasonal road across the South Saskatchewan River between Warman and Aberdeen.
Barricades warning the road is closed have been erected, but on Facebook some drivers have been encouraging others to ignore the signs.
Thompson says if drivers fall through the ice, his department may not be able to save them. He says their small department simply doesn’t have the equipment necessary for rescues on moving water.
Saskatoon’s fire department does, but they are 20 minutes away.
“We just have dry suits and ropes not (long) enough to go out to the middle of the river,” Thompson says.
The ice road is popular with locals because it shaves about 45 minutes off the trip from Warman to Aberdeen.
In January, a woman fell through the ice in her SUV but was rescued by the fire department.
FLASHBACK: Woman escapes car breaking through ice on South Saskatchewan River
Since then, the condition of the ice road has been in question.
Comments